事实
shìshí · HSK 3
fact
📋 事 (matter/affair) + 实 (real/solid) = a real matter, i.e. a fact
事 means affair or matter; 实 means real, solid, or true. Together 事实 literally reads as real matter — the actual state of things, a fact. Compare 实在 (truly) and 实际 (actual), which share the 实 root for reality.
事 — hand 又 holding a banner/tablet on a pole
Originally a pictograph of a hand (又) grasping a pole or ceremonial banner used by an official, depicting the act of conducting court business. From this it came to mean 'affair, matter, business, service.' It shares an ancient origin with 史 (scribe) and 吏 (official).