事情
じじょう · jijou · JLPT N3 · noun
fortune
事情 = matter (事) + feelings/state (情): the state of the matter
事 means matter or affair; 情 means feelings or the true state of things. Together: how a matter really stands, hence circumstances or the reasons behind something. Sound hook: jijou, as in the G-Joe of the situation.
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).
情 — heart radical 忄 + 青 (qīng)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The heart radical 忄 signals that the meaning involves feelings or inner states, while 青 supplies the sound 'qing'. Originally referring to genuine feelings or emotion arising from the heart, 情 expanded to cover sentiment, affection, and circumstances or situations more broadly.