防务 (fáng wù) — defense affairs; national defense matters

Definition

A formal term for 'defense affairs' — the military and security matters of a country, used mainly in news, diplomacy, and government contexts. Pairs with words like 部门, 预算, 问题.

noun
defense affairsnational defense matters
Easily confused

Examples

  • 防务。
    Zhèng fǔ zhèng zài zēng jiā fáng wù yù suàn.
    The government is increasing the defense budget.
  • 防务。
    Tā zài fáng wù bù mén gōng zuò le shí nián.
    He worked in the defense department for ten years.
  • 防务。
    Liǎng guó jiù fáng wù wèn tí jìn xíng le huì tán.
    The two countries held talks on defense matters.

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.

防fángdefense
务wùaffairs

防 gives defense and 务 gives affairs, so defense affairs.

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
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng防fáng
Same sound today

防 pairs 阝 (written fully as 阜) with 方, which gives the sound.

Open 防 →

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 →

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