值日 (zhí rì) — to be on duty (for the day)

Definition

A verb for taking a scheduled daily duty, usually in a workplace, classroom, or shared space — emphasizes the rotation ('it's my turn to be on duty today') rather than ongoing responsibility.

verb
to be on duty (for the day)

Examples

  • 值日。
    Míng tiān lún dào xiǎo wáng zhí rì le.
    Tomorrow it's Xiao Wang's turn to be on duty.
  • ，。
    Tā shàng cì zhí guò rì, zhè cì gāi wǒ le.
    He was on duty last time; this time it's my turn.
  • 值日。
    Wǒ men měi tiān dōu yǒu yí gè rén zhí rì.
    Every day one of us is on duty.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

值zhítake charge
日rìday

值 means to take charge, and 日 means day, giving the sense of being on duty for the day.

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
直
直zhí值zhí
Same sound today

值 is made from 亻 (written in full as 人, a person) and 直, with 直 giving the sound.

Open 值 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

日 originally drew the sun. A mark was added inside to tell it apart from similar square shapes.

Open 日 →

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