收服 (shōu fú) — to subdue; to force into submission; to soothe; to pacify (less common)

Definition

Means to subdue or win over someone/something resisting you — by force, skill, or persuasion. The object is usually people, animals, or forces that oppose you.

verb
to subdueto force into submissionto sootheto pacify (less common)

Examples

  • 收服。
    Tā yòng le sān nián shí jiān shōu fú le zhè piàn dì qū de suǒ yǒu pàn luàn shì lì.
    It took him three years to subdue all the rebel forces in this area.
  • 收服。
    Xùn mǎ shī yòng nài xīn hé jì qiǎo shōu fú le nà pǐ liè mǎ.
    The horse trainer subdued that wild horse with patience and skill.
  • 收服。
    Tā wēn hé de yǔ qì hěn kuài jiù shōu fú le duì fāng de nù qì.
    His gentle tone quickly soothed the other person's anger.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

收shōubring under control
服fúsubmit

收 means bring under control and 服 means submit, so the meaning is to subdue someone.

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
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
丩
丩jiū收shōu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

收 uses 攴 to show an action and 丩 as a sound clue; the old meaning was 'to arrest.'

Open 收 →

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
凡凡fántray
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬝
𠬝𠬝服fú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 服, the part 𠬝 was the original picture for 'to subdue'; the added left part 凡, a tray, later changed shape.

Open 服 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.