Radical 一

8 strokes

This is a rather complex “basic” character! You can think of a story involving “piled up” (Character 150b) and “dexterity” for it if you prefer.

故事 (191) gùshì story, tale

[做事 (210) zuòshì to work]

[办事 (123) bàn shì to handle matters]

[事实 (250) shìshí a fact]

[没事儿 (169, 21) méishìr it doesn’t matter, it’s nothing; to have nothing to do]

/ “The Affair of the Wheel” is the title of a slushy romance between two cyclists. After a few pages the dwarf throws the book down in disgust, saying, “What a charade!”