商务部 (shāng wù bù) — Ministry of Commerce (PRC government department…

Definition

noun

Ministry of Commerce (PRC government department, or similar government agency)

Measure word · 个

商务部。
shāng wù bù Zuì jìn fā bù le xīn de jīng jì zhèng cè.
The Ministry of Commerce recently issued new economic policies.
商务部。
Tā zài shāng wù bù gōng zuò le hěn duō nián.
He has worked at the Ministry of Commerce for many years.
商务部。
shāng wù bù De guān yuán míng tiān yào zhào kāi jì zhě huì.
The Ministry of Commerce officials will hold a press conference tomorrow.

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.

商务commerce affairs

偏正Modifier + head

部bùdepartment

商 and 务 make commerce affairs, and 部 names the government department.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

咅

咅pǒu部bù

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

部 pairs 咅, which gives the sound, with 邑. It originally named a place in today's Gansu.