顺服 (shùn fú) — to submit to, to obey (often willingly or respectfully)

Definition

顺服 (shùnfú) means to submit or yield willingly, often with a sense of respect or reverence — stronger and more willing than plain 服从, which is neutral obedience.

verb
to submit toto obey (often willingly or respectfully)

Examples

  • 顺服，。
    Tā xuǎn zé shùn fú zhēn lǐ, ér bú shì zì jǐ de yù wàng.
    He chooses to submit to the truth, rather than his own desires.
  • ，顺服。
    Zài jūn duì lǐ, shì bīng bì xū shùn fú shàng jí de mìng lìng.
    In the military, soldiers must submit to their superiors' orders.
  • 顺服。
    Jiào tú men qián chéng de shùn fú shén de zhǐ yì.
    The believers piously submit to God's will.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

顺shùnobey
服fúsubmit

顺 and 服 both mean to yield or obey, so together they express submitting or obeying.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 順; 顺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yè
Sound part声符shēngfú
川
川chuān順shùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 順 pairs 川 (river), which gives the sound, with 頁 (head); the picture is a head in a river, following the current. The simplified 顺 is a shorthand.

Open 顺 →

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 →

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