事件

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 事件 is read じけん and means an incident or affair that attracts attention or is treated as a problem.
• Basic usage: It can describe a detective's case or a family mishap later recalled with laughter.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Weight depends on context
  • An incident under investigation and a remembered episode of losing a wallet have different tones even when both use 事件. Everyday use can make a small event sound noteworthy.
• Compared with 事故
  • 事故 readily refers to an unexpected accident or damaging occurrence. 事件 focuses on an affair attracting attention or becoming a subject of discussion, with possible overlap depending on context.