乘务 (chéng wù) — service (on a train, plane, etc.)

Definition

Used as a modifier meaning 'service/catering' on public transport (trains, planes, ships), always paired with nouns like 人员 or 员. Suggests the crew's service role rather than the service itself.

adjective
service (on a train, plane, etc.)

Examples

  • 乘务。
    Zhè cì háng bān de chéng wù fēi cháng zhōu dào.
    The service on this flight is very thoughtful.
  • 乘务。
    Huǒ chē shàng de chéng wù rén yuán tài dù hěn qīn qiè.
    The crew on the train are very friendly.
  • 乘务。
    Gāo zhì liàng de chéng wù ràng chéng kè gǎn dào shū shì.
    High-quality service makes passengers feel comfortable.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

乘chéngride/boarding
务wùservice

The 乘 part means riding or boarding, and the 务 part means service, together covering service aboard a vehicle.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

乘 was drawn as a person climbing a tree, with the feet visible.

Open 乘 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 務; 务 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
敄
敄wù務wù
Same sound today

In the traditional form 務, 力 shows the sense of strength or effort, while 敄 gives the sound. The simplified 务 is a later shorthand.

Open 务 →

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