The Meaning of jijou [事情] In Japanese

事情
じじょう
Romaji: jijou N4

What does 事情 mean?

Translation and Meaning

circumstances, situation, reasons

Definition

What does 事情 mean? It refers to the surrounding conditions or factors that influence a matter; the practical context or state of affairs, including reasons or circumstances.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Circumstances or the state of affairs surrounding a matter — jijou
  • Reasons or causes behind an action or situation — jijou
  • Personal or private matters related to someone’s affairs — jijou

Etymology

From the on’yomi readings of 事 (ji) and 情 (jō) combined to form the compound jijō.

Composition

  • 事: thing, matter
  • 情: feeling, condition
  • Combined meaning: the state or conditions surrounding a matter; context and reasons

Usage

Used as a neutral noun in both formal writing and everyday speech to refer to the surrounding circumstances, the reasons behind something, or the current state of affairs; commonly appears in phrases like 事情を説明する and 事情がある, and can denote both general context and private considerations.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine 事 as a concrete matter and 情 as feelings or conditions; when you put them together you get the overall circumstances or state of affairs

Variations

  • 状況 — jōkyō (circumstance, situation)
  • 都合 — tsugō (circumstances, convenience)
  • 私事 — shiji (private matters)

Example Phrases

  • 今日は 事情が あって 午前中は 休みます。
    Kyou wa jijou ga atte gozenchuu wa yasumimasu.
    Today, due to certain circumstances, I’ll take the morning off.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (Kyou wa) – direct translation in en
    • 事情が (jijou ga) – direct translation in en
    • あって (atte) – direct translation in en
    • 午前中は (gozenchuu wa) – direct translation in en
    • 休みます (yasumimasu) – direct translation in en
    Here 「事情」 means ‘circumstances’ or ‘personal matters’ that affect plans; used with が and 〜あって to indicate cause.
  • 授業中は学生の事情にも配慮するべきだ。
    Jugyōchū wa gakusei no jijō ni mo hairyo suru beki da.
    During class, one should also be considerate of students’ circumstances.
    Lista:
    • 授業中 (Jugyōchū) – during class
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 学生の事情 (gakusei no jijō) – students’ circumstances
    • にも (nimo) – also to
    • 配慮 (hairyo) – consideration
    • するべき (suru beki) – should do
    • だ (da) – is
    Core point: 「配慮」 means ‘consideration’; here it is paired with するべき to mean ‘should consider’.
  • 家庭の事情により、来週の会議の参加を辞退します。
    katei no jijou ni yori, raishū no kaigi no sanka o jitai shimasu.
    Due to family circumstances, I will decline to participate in next week’s meeting.
    Lista:
    • 家庭の事情により (katei no jijou ni yori) – due to family circumstances
    • 来週の (raishū no) – next week’s
    • 会議の (kaigi no) – meeting’s
    • 参加を (sanka o) – participation
    • 辞退します (jitai shimasu) – declines
    辞退 means to decline or withdraw; in this sentence the verb 辞退します expresses a polite, formal refusal to participate. The root word is 「辞退」.
事情