事

• Reading: こと
• Romaji: koto
• Kanji breakdown: 事 (ji/koto) — thing, matter, affair
• Pronunciation: /ko.to/

Meaning

Thing; matter; affair; fact. Used for abstract things, events, and experiences.

Unlike 物 (mono) which refers to physical objects, 事 refers to abstract matters, events, or experiences. Frequently used to nominalize verbs (e.g., 食べること = the act of eating). Also appears in many common expressions like 大事 (important) and 仕事 (work).

Examples

1. 日本に行った事がありますか。 Have you ever been to Japan?
2. 大事な事を忘れてしまった。 I forgot something important.
3. そんな事は知りませんでした。 I didn't know about that.

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, writing, grammar patterns

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

One of the oldest and most fundamental Japanese nouns. The kanji 事 originally depicted a hand holding a writing implement, suggesting the recording of events and matters.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal