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服务台 (fú wù tái) — service desk; information desk; reception desk; counter

Definition

A staffed counter where guests ask questions, check in, or get help — the place itself, not the people. Common in hotels, airports, and stores, where it overlaps in meaning with 前台 and 接待处 but is more generic.

noun
service deskinformation deskreception deskcounter
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 服务台？
    Qǐng wèn fú wù tái zài nǎ lǐ?
    Excuse me, where is the service desk?
  • 服务台。
    Nǐ kě yǐ qù fú wù tái bàn lǐ rù zhù shǒu xù.
    You can go to the reception desk to check in.
  • 服务台。
    fú wù tái De gōng zuò rén yuán bāng wǒ zhǎo dào le shī wù.
    The staff at the information desk helped me find my lost item.

Origin

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.

服务serve affairs
服fúserve务wùaffairs
动宾Verb + object
台táicounter

服务 serving and 台 counter combine to name a place where service is given.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臺; 台 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 台 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (窗台, 电视台) it is 臺; in others (台灯, 台球) (台风) it is 檯 or 台 or 颱.

The traditional form 臺 is the 喬 + 室 form; earlier versions combined a sound part with 室, and an old reading saw it as a watch tower.

Open 台 →
Appears in
Public Facilities

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