侍奉 (shì fèng) — to attend upon respectfully; to serve with devo… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal, literary verb meaning to serve or attend to (elders, parents, a ruler) with devotion. Carries a strong sense of respect and duty, far weightier than the everyday 照顾.

verb

to attend upon respectfullyto serve with devotion (elders, superiors)

Examples

侍奉，。
Tā yì shēng dōu zài shì fèng fù mǔ, cóng wú yuàn yán.
He spent his whole life serving his parents without a single complaint.
，侍奉。
Zǐ nǚ zhǎng dà chéng rén hòu, yīng dāng shì fèng zài nián mài de fù mǔ shēn biān.
After children grow up, they should be by their aging parents' side to attend to them.
，侍奉。
Zài gǔ dài, chén zǐ bì xū zhōng xīn shì fèng jūn zhǔ.
In ancient times, ministers had to serve the monarch with loyalty.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

The attending part and the serving part both express care for someone, together meaning respectful service.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú

⺅Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

寺

寺sì侍shì

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

侍 has 人 (person) paired with 寺, which gives the sound.

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú

廾廾gǒngtwo hands

Sound part声符shēngfú

丰

丰fēng奉fèng

Same sound today

奉 pairs 丰 for the pronunciation with 廾, 'two hands', as the meaning part.

Appears in

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