Definition
司 is a bound form (b.f.) that appears as the first element in many common compounds. Its core meanings are 'to manage/direct' (as in 司机 'driver', 司令 'commander') and 'department/bureau' (as in 公司 'company', 司法 'judicial'). As a bound form, it does not stand alone as an independent word but combines with other morphemes to form nouns and occasional verbs.
b.f.
(bound form) to take charge ofto manage(bound form) department (under a ministry)
Examples
- ，。Tā shì yì míng sī jī, kāi le shí nián de chē.He is a driver who has been driving for ten years.
- 。Zhè jiā gōng sī de guīmó hěn dà.This company is very large in scale.
- 。sī fǎ bùmén fùzé chǔlǐ fǎlǜ shìwù.The judicial department is responsible for handling legal affairs.
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