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| 省事 [2025/08/06 01:45] – created xiaoer | 省事 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== shěngshì: 省事 - To Save Trouble, Convenient ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** 省事, shengshi, shěngshì, save trouble in Chinese, how to say convenient in Chinese, make things easier Chinese, simplify matters, Chinese word for efficient, Chinese life hack, practical Chinese | |
| * **Summary:** Learn how to use **省事 (shěngshì)**, a fundamental Chinese term meaning "to save trouble" or "to be convenient." This page explores its core definition, the cultural value placed on efficiency and practicality in modern China, and how to use it in everyday conversation. Discover how **省事 (shěngshì)** describes a simpler method, a time-saving product, or a way to avoid unnecessary work, making it a key vocabulary word for navigating life in China smartly. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** shěng shì | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Adjective / Verb-Object Phrase | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To save trouble or effort; to be convenient by simplifying a process. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **省事 (shěngshì)** is the feeling of relief you get when you find a clever shortcut or a tool that makes a task much easier. It's the Chinese expression for "making life easier" or "let's not make this harder than it needs to be." It embodies the values of practicality and efficiency, celebrating a smart approach to getting things done without unnecessary hassle. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **省 (shěng):** In this context, this character means "to save," "to omit," or "to economize." Think of saving money (省钱 shěng qián) or saving time (省时间 shěng shíjiān). | |
| * **事 (shì):** This character means "matter," "affair," "thing," or "business." It refers to any task or situation you might deal with. | |
| When combined, **省事 (shěngshì)** literally means "to save matters" or "to reduce the affairs." It's an intuitive word that means you are simplifying a process or reducing the number of steps required to complete a task, thereby saving yourself trouble. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In a culture that highly values pragmatism and efficiency, **省事 (shěngshì)** is more than just a word; it's a desirable outcome. From the explosion of food delivery and e-commerce apps to the development of the world's most extensive high-speed rail network, modern Chinese society is built around the principle of making things more **省事**. | |
| A useful comparison is to contrast it with the Western "Do-It-Yourself" (DIY) ethos. While DIY culture often romanticizes the process and the satisfaction of building something with your own hands, the mindset behind **省事** often prioritizes the result and the efficient use of time. A common Chinese perspective might be, "Why spend a whole day building a bookshelf when you can buy a sturdy, affordable one and use that time to relax or be with family?" This isn't about laziness; it's a practical calculation of where one's time and energy are best spent. **省事** is about being smart with your resources, especially your time. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **省事** is an extremely common and versatile term used in daily life. | |
| * **As an Adjective:** It can directly describe a thing, method, or solution as "trouble-saving" or "convenient." | |
| * //e.g., 这个工具很**省事**。 (Zhège gōngjù hěn shěngshì.) - This tool saves a lot of trouble.// | |
| * **As a Verb-Object Phrase:** It's often used to express choosing an easier course of action. | |
| * //e.g., 我们打车去吧，为了**省事**。 (Wǒmen dǎchē qù ba, wèile shěngshì.) - Let's take a taxi, in order to save trouble.// | |
| * **Separable Verb:** The two characters can be separated, most commonly by adding words like `不少 (bù shǎo)` or `很多 (hěn duō)` in between. | |
| * //e.g., 网购能**省**不少**事**。 (Wǎnggòu néng shěng bù shǎo shì.) - Online shopping can save quite a bit of trouble.// | |
| * **"图省事" (tú shěngshì):** This common phrase means "to seek convenience." It's often neutral but can carry a slightly negative connotation of cutting corners or choosing the easy way out at the expense of quality. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| **Example 1:** | |
| * 有了洗碗机，做饭之后**省事**多了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yǒule xǐwǎnjī, zuòfàn zhīhòu **shěngshì** duō le. | |
| * English: With a dishwasher, it's much more convenient after cooking. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **省事** is used as an adjective to describe the situation. It highlights the reduction of labor. | |
| **Example 2:** | |
| * 我们还是坐高铁吧，又快又**省事**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen háishì zuò gāotiě ba, yòu kuài yòu **shěngshì**. | |
| * English: Let's just take the high-speed train; it's both fast and trouble-free. | |
| * Analysis: A classic use case comparing modes of transportation. **省事** here implies avoiding traffic, parking, and the general stress of driving. | |
| **Example 3:** | |
| * 为了**省事**，我直接在网上预订了酒店。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wèile **shěngshì**, wǒ zhíjiē zài wǎngshàng yùdìng le jiǔdiàn. | |
| * English: To save trouble, I booked the hotel directly online. | |
| * Analysis: `为了 (wèile)` means "in order to." This structure clearly states the motivation for the action. | |
| **Example 4:** | |
| * 这个新 App 可以帮你**省**很多**事**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhège xīn App kěyǐ bāng nǐ **shěng** hěn duō **shì**. | |
| * English: This new app can save you a lot of trouble. | |
| * Analysis: This shows **省事** being used as a separable verb. `省 (shěng)` is the verb and `事 (shì)` is the object, with `很多 (hěn duō)` modifying the object. | |
| **Example 5:** | |
| * 你别图**省事**，这个报告的数据一定要准确。 | |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ bié tú **shěngshì**, zhège bàogào de shùjù yīdìng yào zhǔnquè. | |
| * English: Don't just try to cut corners; the data in this report must be accurate. | |
| * Analysis: This example uses the phrase `图省事 (tú shěngshì)` in its negative sense, warning against taking shortcuts that compromise quality. | |
| **Example 6:** | |
| * 怎么去机场最**省事**？ | |
| * Pinyin: Zěnme qù jīchǎng zuì **shěngshì**? | |
| * English: What's the most trouble-free way to get to the airport? | |
| * Analysis: A common question when planning travel. The speaker is looking for the optimal balance of speed, cost, and effort. | |
| **Example 7:** | |
| * 我妈妈喜欢买半成品菜，她说这样准备晚饭很**省事**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ māma xǐhuān mǎi bànchéngpǐn cài, tā shuō zhèyàng zhǔnbèi wǎnfàn hěn **shěngshì**. | |
| * English: My mom likes to buy pre-prepared meal kits; she says it saves a lot of trouble when making dinner. | |
| * Analysis: This highlights the practicality of **省事** in daily chores like cooking. | |
| **Example 8:** | |
| * 搬家公司把所有东西都打包好了，真是给我们**省事**了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Bānjiā gōngsī bǎ suǒyǒu dōngxi dōu dǎbāo hǎo le, zhēnshi gěi wǒmen **shěngshì** le. | |
| * English: The moving company packed everything for us, which really saved us a lot of trouble. | |
| * Analysis: The phrase `给 (gěi) + someone + 省事` is a common way to say something saved *someone* trouble. | |
| **Example 9:** | |
| * 虽然自己做比较麻烦，但是比外面的健康，不能总图**省事**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Suīrán zìjǐ zuò bǐjiào máfan, dànshì bǐ wàimiàn de jiànkāng, bùnéng zǒng tú **shěngshì**. | |
| * English: Although cooking yourself is more troublesome, it's healthier than eating out, so you can't always just look for the easy way. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence contrasts `麻烦 (máfán - troublesome)` with `省事` and shows a mature understanding that the easiest path isn't always the best one. | |
| **Example 10:** | |
| * 用电子支付不用找零钱，非常**省事**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yòng diànzǐ zhīfù bùyòng zhǎo língqián, fēicháng **shěngshì**. | |
| * English: Using electronic payment is very convenient since you don't need to look for change. | |
| * Analysis: A perfect example from modern life in China, where cashless payments are popular precisely because they are so **省事**. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **省事 (shěngshì) vs. 方便 (fāngbiàn):** This is the most common point of confusion for learners. | |
| * **方便 (fāngbiàn)** refers to convenience related to //access, location, or timing//. Think "easy to get to" or "fitting into one's schedule." | |
| * //Correct:// 我家楼下就有超市，很**方便**。 (Wǒjiā lóu xià jiù yǒu chāoshì, hěn fāngbiàn.) - There's a supermarket downstairs from my apartment, it's very convenient. (Location-based) | |
| * **省事 (shěngshì)** refers to convenience related to //reducing effort, complexity, or steps in a process//. Think "less work to do." | |
| * //Correct:// 用吸尘器比用扫帚**省事**多了。(Yòng xīchénqì bǐ yòng sàozhou shěngshì duō le.) - Using a vacuum cleaner saves a lot more trouble than using a broom. (Effort-based) | |
| * While they sometimes overlap, remember: `方便` is about easy access, `省事` is about less work. | |
| * **Don't Use It for People:** You cannot use **省事** to describe a person as "easy-going" or "low-maintenance." For that, you would use a word like [[随和]] (suíhe). Saying "他很省事" (Tā hěn shěngshì) is incorrect and would sound very strange. | |
| * **Not a "False Friend" for "Avoiding Trouble":** In English, "saving trouble" can mean avoiding a difficult person. **省事** is almost never used this way. It applies to tasks and processes, not social avoidance. To say you want to avoid conflict, you'd use a phrase like [[不想惹麻烦]] (bù xiǎng rě máfan). | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[麻烦]] (máfán) - Troublesome; trouble. The direct antonym of **省事**. What you are trying to avoid when you seek to **省事**. | |
| * [[方便]] (fāngbiàn) - Convenient. A close synonym, but with a focus on accessibility and ease of use/location rather than effort reduction. | |
| * [[简单]] (jiǎndān) - Simple; easy. A task that is **简单** is often, but not always, **省事**. | |
| * [[效率]] (xiàolǜ) - Efficiency. This is the underlying principle or goal. Choosing a **省事** method often increases your **效率**. | |
| * [[省钱]] (shěng qián) - To save money. Uses the same **省** character and logic. | |
| * [[省时间]] (shěng shíjiān) - To save time. Another key benefit of doing things in a **省事** way. | |
| * [[走捷径]] (zǒu jiéjìng) - To take a shortcut. A literal or figurative action taken in order to **省事**. | |
| * [[一举两得]] (yī jǔ liǎng dé) - To kill two birds with one stone. A strategy that is often very **省事**. | |