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手续 (shǒu xù) — procedure(s), (official) formalities

Definition

手续 are the official paperwork steps required by an organization (registering, applying, refunding). Unlike 过程 ('process' as a general course of events), 手续 specifically means the formal procedures you must complete.

noun
procedure(s)(official) formalities
Measure word · 道, 个

Examples

  • 手续？
    Bào míng shǒu xù xū yào jǐ dào?
    How many procedures are needed for registration?
  • 手续？
    Bàn yí gè yín háng kǎ xū yào shén me shǒu xù?
    What procedures are needed to get a bank card?
  • 手续。
    Zhè ge tuì piào shǒu xù hěn jiǎn dān.
    This refund procedure is very simple.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

手 draws a five-fingered human hand: the top line is a bent middle finger, and the horizontal lines show the other four fingers.

Open 手 →

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 續; 续 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìrope
Sound part声符shēngfú
𧶠
𧶠𧶠續xù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 續 pairs 糸 (rope) with 𧶠 as the sound part; the simplified 续 is a later abbreviation.

Open 续 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Abstract Concepts

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