What's the logic behind the word 从事?

Question

Usually Chinese words are not made up of random characters, but instead have some kind of underlying logic. Moreover, understanding this logic makes it easier to remember and use the word. However, one common-ish (HSK5-level) word causes me issues:

从事 (cóng​shì)
CC-CEDICT: to go for / to engage in / to undertake / to deal with / to handle / to do

So it's yet another way of saying "do" (I'll add it to the list: 做, 干, 搞, 弄, etc.) but it's perhaps more formal and encountered in a business/workplace setting.

It literally translates to something like "from matter/affair", which seems detached from "to do":

从 (cóng​)
CC-CEDICT: from / through / via / to follow / to obey / to engage in (an activity) / never (in negative sentence) / (Taiwan pr. [zong4]) retainer / assistant / auxiliary / subordinate / related by common paternal grandfather or earlier ancestor

事 (shì)
CC-CEDICT: matter / thing / item / work / affair

I don't get the logic here, and why this word is even needed.

Question: What's the logic behind the word 从事?

Answer 1

事 can also be a verb for 'to serve; to work for' e.g. 忠臣不事二主 (a loyal vassal does not serve/ work for two masters)

Since 从 itself has many different meanings, just say 从 is not specific enough. Adding a similar verb 事 and form the compound word 从事 make it a specific term for 'to engage in' (a field/ industry)

从政 = to undertake a political career

从商 = to engage in the business world

从影 = to work in the films industry (refers to the on-screen personnel only )

从軍 = to join/ to serve the military

从 - engage; join

事 - serve; work for

从事 = to engage in (a field/ industry)

Example:

从事环保工作 - Engage in environmental protection work

从事出入口行业 - Engage in the import and export industry

Answer 2

The primary meaning of 從（从）is to "follow". In English, we may describe participating/engaging in X as "pursuing" X. The logic in Chinese is similar.

https://www.moedict.tw/%E5%BE%9E

3. 參與。 To participate.
   如：「從事」、「從政」。 As in: "pursue/participate", "pursue politics".

Answer 3

从事: it mean that working for some thing that have important sense, for example: manned spacecraft engineering. it is used in very offical and formal occasion.

例句： 杨利伟从事航天事业。 孙中山从事革命事业。 韩红从事公益工作。

Answer 4

从 gives us a sense of "follow" as in 跟从 and 事 is "thing", "something" or "occupation" as in 事业.

Together, 从事: to follow something. "To follow something" suggests pursue something, do something, undertake, engage in, etc.

So 从事xxx can be taken as follow/do something/things about xxx.

PS 从事 is usually used in the formal register. It sounds more business-like. In casual speech, we use 做, 当，etc.

Answer 5

I'm a Chinese working in a US company.

I think most Chinese can't answer your question well, as 从事 is always used as a full word, a normal Chinese people will never think about to split it into 从 and 事。

But, yes, originally, 从事 is an ancient word, from thousands of years ago. In that age, 从 had a meaning of 'engage in', 事 meant 'career, work‘.