ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

affair; business; must

5 strokes · 夂 (go) + 力 (strength) — exerting effort on tasks · HSK 2

Where 务 comes from

The traditional form 務 showed a lance, a hand striking, and strength 力 — pressing forward with force. Simplified 务 keeps the striding foot and the muscle: business is what you push through.

务 in Chinese culture

服务 'service' hangs on signs across China: 服务员 is how you call a waiter. 务必 means 'must without fail' — the character still carries its old imperative muscle. 家务 is housework, the business of home.

Example

服务 fúwù — service

这家饭店服务非常好。
Zhè jiā fàndiàn fúwù fēicháng hǎo.
This restaurant's service is excellent.

How to remember it

March 夂 plus muscle 力 — the BUSINESS you must push through.

服务员! shouted across a restaurant is perfectly polite in China — summoning service loudly is expected, not rude. Whispering for the check gets you nowhere.

Same sound, different tones

1st wū
room, house
2nd wú
without
3rd wǔ
five
4th wù
affair

Words unlocked by 务

服务 fúwù
service
服务员 fúwùyuán
waiter / server
家务 jiāwù
housework

Related characters

LEARN 务 WITH STROKE-BY-STROKE WRITING → DOWNLOAD ZHIZHI
One character a morning · 371-character HSK library · iOS