服输 (fú shū) — to admit defeat, to concede | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

verb

to admit defeatto concede

Examples

，服输。
Suī rán bǐ sài shū le, dàn tā cóng bù fú shū.
Although he lost the competition, he never admits defeat.
，服输。
Tā yǒng yú miàn duì shī bài, dǒng de zài bì yào shí fú shū.
He is brave enough to face failure and knows when to concede.
，服输。
Duì fāng shí lì tài qiáng, wǒ men zhǐ néng fú shū le.
The opponent is too strong; we can only admit defeat.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

服fúsubmit

服 (submit) plus 输 (defeat) gives the idea of admitting defeat.

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.

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 輸; 输 is its simplified writing.

車俞輸

Meaning part形符xíngfú

車車jū

Sound part声符shēngfú

俞

俞yú輸shū

Same sound today

The traditional form 輸 pairs 車 (vehicle) with 俞 for sound; 車 shows the meaning.

Appears in

Success & Failure

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