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服务处 (fú wù chù) — service center; service office

Definition

noun
service centerservice office
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 服务处。
    Tā zài fú wù chù bàn lǐ hù zhào xù qī shǒu xù.
    He is handling passport renewal procedures at the service center.
  • 服务处。
    Qǐng dào yī lóu fú wù chù lǐng qǔ biǎo gé.
    Please go to the service center on the first floor to pick up forms.
  • 服务处。
    Zhè ge fú wù chù tí gōng gè zhǒng biàn mín fú wù.
    This service center provides various convenience services.

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.

服务service
服fúserve务wùaffairs
动宾Verb + object
处chùplace

服务 means service, and 处 means place; together they name a place where service is provided.

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
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 →

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 →

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 處; 处 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
夂夂zhǐ
几几jǐtable
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū處chǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 處 pairs 虍, giving the sound, with 夂 and 几, a table, as meaning parts. The simplified 处 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 处 →
Appears in
Public Facilities

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