Definition
役 is a bound form (b.f.) — it cannot stand alone as an independent word. You'll find it as the second element in compounds where it contributes meanings like 'service' (服役 'military service'), 'forced labor' (劳役 'corvée labor'), or 'battle/campaign' (战役 'military campaign'). The specific sense depends on the first character it attaches to.
b.f.
(bound form) laborservice (in 劳役, 服役)(bound form) battlecampaign (in 战役)
Examples
- 。Tā fú le liǎng nián bīng yì.He served in the military for two years.
- 。Zhè chǎng zhàn yì fēicháng jīliè.This battle was extremely fierce.
- 。Gǔdài nóngmín yào fú láo yì.Ancient peasants had to perform forced labor.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.