服务器 (fú wù qì) — server (computer)

Definition

noun
server (computer)
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 服务器
    Gōng sī xīn mǎi le liǎng tái fú wù qì.
    The company bought two new servers.
  • 服务器
    Zhè tái fú wù qì de cún chǔ kōng jiān hěn dà.
    This server has a lot of storage space.
  • 服务器
    fú wù qì Xū yào dìng qī jiǎn chá cái néng wěn dìng yùn xíng.
    Servers need regular checks to run stably.

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service
serveaffairs
动宾Verb + object
device

服务 means service and 器 means device, forming a device that provides service.

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
fántray
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬝
𠬝𠬝
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
strength
Sound part声符shēngfú
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.

The origin of 器 is uncertain; one traditional account reads the whole shape as a scene of guarding over four vessels.

Open 器 →

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