省事
shěng shì , xǐng shì · HSK 7
to save trouble
🧹 省事 = 省 save/economize + 事 matter; saving on the matter = less hassle
The first character 省 means to save or economize; 事 means matter or affair. Together: trim a matter down so it takes less effort. The shěng reading means save, while xǐng means handle administrative affairs.
省 — 少 (shǎo) on top + 目 (eye) below
Originally a compound of 少 'small/few' over 目 'eye', suggesting narrowed eyes peering closely — hence the reading xǐng meaning 'to examine, inspect, reflect'. The sense of 'reduce/save' and the administrative meaning 'province' (as in 省份) developed later from the idea of cutting down or overseeing a region.
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).