Definition
服役 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to serve a period of service', most commonly military service. When split, the verb 服 carries the action and the object 役 can be separated by a duration or measure: 服了两年役 ('served two years'). It can also refer to other fixed-service periods such as prison terms, though 服刑 is more common for the latter.
v.o.
to serve (in the military, on active duty)to serve a term (of mandatory service, e.g., military or prison)
Examples
- 服役。Tā yǐjīng zài bùduì fú yì sān nián le.He has already served in the army for three years.
- 。Tā fú le liǎng nián yì jiù tuìwǔ le.He served two years and then was discharged.
- 服役。Hěnduō niánqīng rén xuǎnzé fú yì ér búshì shàng dàxué.Many young people choose to serve in the military instead of going to university.
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