matter; affair; thing; item (dialect)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
matter; affair; business
literaryUsed in literary, classical, or formal written Chinese to refer to an abstract matter or affair.
Zuò作
hé何
wù物
shì事
？
What is to be done?
Cǐ此
nǎi乃
tiān天
xià下
dì第
yī一
wù物
shì事
。
This is the most important matter under heaven.
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Rén人
shì世
jiān间
de的
wù物
shì事
，
fù复
zá杂
nán难
liào料
。
The affairs of the human world are complex and unpredictable.
noun
thing; item; stuff
dialectUsed in certain dialects, particularly the Wu dialect group (e.g., Shanghainese), to refer to a physical object or item. Often carries a colloquial or folksy tone.
Shá啥
wù物
shì事
？
What (thing) is this?
Wǒ我
qù去
mǎi买
ge个
wù物
shì事
。
I'm going to buy something.
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Zhè这
ge个
wù物
shì事
mán蛮
hǎo好
yòng用
de的
。
This thing works pretty well.