事実
じじつ · jijitsu · JLPT N3 · adverb
fact
📋 事実 = matter (事) + real (実): the real matter, a fact
事 (ji) means matter or affair, as in 事件 (incident). 実 (jitsu) means real or actual, as in 実際 (actually). Put together: the matter as it really is. Sound hook: ji-ji-tsu, a doubled ji, like saying the thing twice to confirm it is true.
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).