办事

• Pinyin: bàn shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 办 = 力 (effort) flanked by two dots, meaning handle/manage; 事 = pictograph of a hand holding a record stick, meaning matter/affair

Meaning

To handle affairs; to get things done; to take care of business.

A verb-object phrase used broadly for conducting business, running errands, or handling tasks — especially official or administrative ones. Common in phrases like 办事效率 (efficiency), 办事处 (office/agency). Implies purposeful, task-oriented action.

Examples

1. 他办事很认真，领导对他非常满意。 He handles his work very conscientiously, and his boss is very pleased with him.
2. 我今天要去银行办事，可能要等很长时间。 I need to go to the bank today to take care of some business — it might take a long time to wait.
3. 这个部门办事效率很高，一天就把手续办完了。 This department works very efficiently — they completed all the procedures in one day.

Usage Guide

Context: work, administrative, everyday

Tone: businesslike

Do Say

• 你办事我放心。(I'm at ease when you handle things.)
• 明天我要去政府部门办事。(I need to go to a government office to handle some business tomorrow.)

Don't Say

• 说'我去办事吃饭' (Don't use 办事 for routine daily activities like eating — it specifically means handling tasks or business matters)

Origin & History

A verb-object compound: 办 (handle, manage) + 事 (affairs, matters). A natural pairing meaning to deal with tasks or business.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal