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服务 (fú wù) — to serve

Definition

服务 (fúwù) means to serve in a professional, customer-facing context — providing a service, not attending someone personally. For hosting or waiting on guests, use 招待 or 侍候; 服从 is about obeying orders, not serving people.

verb
to serve
Measure word · 项

Examples

  • 服务。
    Tā yuàn yì wèi kè rén fú wù.
    He is willing to serve guests.
  • 服务。
    Zhè jiā fàn diàn fú wù dé hěn hǎo.
    This restaurant serves very well.
  • 服务。
    Wǒ men wèi měi yí wèi gù kè fú wù.
    We serve every customer.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

服fúserve
务wùaffairs

服 means to serve and 务 means affairs, so together they mean serving affairs.

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
凡凡fántray
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬝
𠬝𠬝服fú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 服, the part 𠬝 was the original picture for 'to subdue'; the added left part 凡, a tray, later changed shape.

Open 服 →

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.

Open 务 →
Appears in
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