某部 (mǒu bù) — a certain department or unit (e.g., government bureau, military unit); some part or portion (of a whole, especially in texts)

Definition

某 (mǒu) is an indefinite pronoun meaning 'a certain' — it works like 某个 / 某些 but with nouns such as 部 'department' or 'part'. Used when the speaker knows but does not name the specific one (often in formal or official writing).

pronoun
a certain department or unit (e.g., government bureau, military unit)some part or portion (of a whole, especially in texts)

Examples

  • 某部，。
    mǒu bù Zhèng zài diào chá cǐ shì, qǐng nài xīn děng dài jié guǒ.
    A certain department is investigating this matter; please wait patiently for the results.
  • 某部，。
    Tā zài mǒu bù gōng zuò le wǔ nián, hòu lái diào dào le zǒng bù.
    He worked in a certain unit for five years, and later was transferred to headquarters.
  • 某部。
    Lùn wén de mǒu bù xū yào jìn yí bù xiū gǎi cái néng fā biǎo.
    A certain part of the thesis needs further revision before it can be published.

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.

某mǒucertain
部bùdepartment; part

某 points to an unspecified one, and 部 names the department or part.

Characters in this word

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

The shape shows 木 (tree) with 甘 (sweet); it was originally the form for a Chinese plum, and later became the form for 某.

Open 某 →

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
邑邑yì
Sound part声符shēngfú
咅
咅pǒu部bù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

部 pairs 咅, which gives the sound, with 邑. It originally named a place in today's Gansu.

Open 部 →

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