Chinese word

办事

Pronunciation

Pinyinbàn shì

Meaning

  • verbrun errands

Example

我明天要去办事，下午才能回来。wǒ míng tiān yào qù bàn shì xià wǔ cái néng huí lái

I have to run an errand tomorrow, so I won't be back until the afternoon.

Illustration for 办事 (run errands)

More examples

我请他帮我办事，结果很快就办好了。wǒ qǐng tā bāng wǒ bàn shì jié guǒ hěn kuài jiù bàn hǎo le

I asked him to run an errand for me, and he got it done quickly.

Core concept

A practical matter moving from an unfinished need through the actions or official steps that settle it.

Common phrases

  • 去办事qù bàn shì

    go run errands

  • 帮别人办事bāng bié rén bàn shì

    run errands for others

  • 自己办事zì jǐ bàn shì

    handle matters oneself

Similar words

办bàn: Taking a matter in hand and arranging whatever is needed to settle it.
办理bàn lǐ: Handling a formal procedure or work process in the prescribed way until it is complete.
做事zuò shì: Working on a job or task in order to get a result.
处理chú lǐ: Responding to and resolving a problem or piece of administrative work.

Definition in Chinese

为了完成某项用事而采取行动或办理相关手续，可以指外出办理事务、跑腿，也可以指在单位或家庭内部处理并把事情办成。wèi le wán chéng mǒu xiàng yòng shì ér cái qǔ xíng dòng huò bàn lǐ xiāng guān shǒu xù ké yǐ zhǐ wài chū bàn lǐ shì wù páo tuǐ yě ké yǐ zhǐ zài dān wèi huò jiā tíng nèi bù chú lǐ bìng bǎ shì qíng bàn chéng

Word origin

办 (bàn, "handle") + 事 (shì, "matter") forms the idea of taking a matter in hand and carrying it through to completion.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this verb often leaves the exact task unstated because the surrounding place or situation makes the errand clear.

Other meanings

  • process paperworkverb
  • handle mattersverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word