省事

• Pinyin: shěng shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 省 = 少 + 目 (to reduce, save); 事 = 亅 + 口 + 彐 (matter, affair)

Meaning

To save trouble; to be convenient; to simplify matters — making something less complicated or time-consuming.

An informal colloquial term expressing the idea of reducing effort, complication, or hassle. Often used when describing a shortcut or streamlined approach that eliminates unnecessary steps. Contrasted with 麻烦 (troublesome). Can be used as an adjective or a verb.

Examples

1. 他索性买了一台全自动洗碗机，既省事又卫生，大大减少了饭后收拾的负担。 He went ahead and bought a fully automatic dishwasher—it’s convenient and hygienic, and it greatly reduces the cleanup burden after meals.
2. 直接在网上办理所有手续比去窗口排队省事多了，建议优先选择线上渠道。 Handling all the procedures online is far more convenient than standing in line at a service counter, so it’s best to choose the online option first.
3. 有了这款智能助手，安排日程和预订行程变得省事不少，工作效率也明显提升。 With this smart assistant, scheduling and booking travel has become much easier, and work efficiency has clearly improved.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, technology, workplace, services

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 用这个模板填写申请表比从头写省事多了，大家可以直接套用，不必重复劳动。(Filling in the application form using this template is much less trouble than writing from scratch; everyone can use it directly without duplicating effort.)
• 提前在手机上办好登机手续确实省事，既不用在机场排长队，也减少了等待的焦虑。(Checking in via mobile phone in advance is genuinely convenient; you avoid long queues at the airport and reduce the anxiety of waiting.)

Don't Say

• 省事 in formal or academic writing — it is a colloquial expression; use 简化流程 or 提高效率 for formal contexts

Origin & History

省 (to save, to reduce) + 事 (matter, affair, task)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal