专事 (zhuān shì) — to specialize in (a task), to be in charge of (a designated duty)

Definition

Verb meaning 'to specialize in' or 'be in charge of' a single designated task or duty. Used for a role's defined responsibility rather than a profession or general interest.

verb
to specialize in (a task)to be in charge of (a designated duty)

Examples

  • 专事。
    Tā zhuān shì gōng sī de rén lì zī yuán guǎn lǐ.
    He specializes in the company's human resources management.
  • 专事。
    Zhè ge bù mén zhuān shì shì chǎng diào yán gōng zuò.
    This department is in charge of market research work.
  • ，。
    Tā zhuān qí shì duō nián, jīng yàn fēng fù.
    She has specialized in that task for many years and is very experienced.

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.

专zhuānexclusively
事shìattend to

专 (exclusively) and 事 (attend to) give the sense of specializing in a task.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 專; 专 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 專 shows 又, a hand, turning 叀, a spindle; this came to mean gathering several things into one.

Open 专 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →

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