义务 (yì wù) — (noun) duty, obligation; (adjective) volunteer, unpaid (work, service)
Definition
义务 is a 'duty or obligation' one is morally or legally bound to fulfill — stronger and more formal than 责任 ('responsibility,' which can also mean blame). As an adjective it means 'voluntary/unpaid' (义务劳动 = volunteer work).
noun
dutyobligation
adjective
volunteerunpaid (work, service)
Measure word · 项
Examples
- 义务。Bǎo hù huán jìng shì měi gè gōng mín de yì wù.Protecting the environment is every citizen's duty.
- 义务。Tā zhōu mò jīng cháng cān jiā yì wù láo dòng.He often participates in volunteer labor on weekends.
- 义务，。Zhè shì fǎ lǜ guī dìng de yì wù, nǐ bì xū zūn shǒu.This is a legal obligation; you must comply.
Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.