事情

• Reading: じじょう
• Romaji: jijou
• Kanji breakdown: 事 (ji) — matter, thing; 情 (jou) — feelings, circumstances
• Pronunciation: /dʑi.dʑo.ɯ/

Meaning

Circumstances; situation; reasons behind something. The background conditions that explain a state of affairs.

A noun frequently used to explain why something happened or to describe a complex situation. Common patterns include 事情がある (to have reasons/circumstances), 事情を説明する (to explain the situation), and 個人的な事情 (personal circumstances). Often implies details that are private or complicated.

Examples

1. 個人的な事情で会社を休んだ。 I took the day off from work due to personal circumstances.
2. 詳しい事情を聞かせてもらえますか。 Could you tell me the details of the situation?
3. 国の事情によって法律が違う。 Laws differ depending on the circumstances of each country.

Usage Guide

Context: explanations, business, personal matters

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 事 (matter, thing) and 情 (feelings, circumstances). Together they describe the emotional and factual circumstances surrounding a matter.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal