务必 (wù bì) — must, to be sure to | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

务必 is a formal, written 'must' for strong instructions or requests — stronger than the spoken 得 and the single-character 必; less emphatic than 非得.

adverb

mustto be sure to

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

务 and 必 both carry the sense of being sure or necessary, so together they mean must.

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.

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.

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

The shape of 必 comes from the handle on the right side of a weapon, with two extra strokes added to its sides.

Appears in