务

務

wù

力 + 夂

Definitions

wù (noun) affair; business; matter

wù (verb) to be engaged in; to attend to

Etymology

Simplified form of 務. Phonosemantic compound. 矛 represents the sound, while 攵 and 力 both represent the meaning. The traditional component 矛 was removed for simplification.

About

务 is the simplified form of 務, a phono-semantic compound: 矛 (spear) gave the sound, while 攵 (action) and 力 (strength) together suggested the meaning of strenuous effort. When simplified, the phonetic 矛 was dropped, leaving a reduced form of 攵 (written 夂) above 力, preserving the sense of a demanding task. Over time, the character shed any martial overtones and came to refer broadly to business affairs, professional duties, and the essential services of modern administrative life.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的任务完成了。

Wǒ de rènwù wánchéng le.

My task is completed.

他为大家服务。

Tā wèi dàjiā fúwù.

He serves everyone.

做家务是日常义务。

Zuò jiāwù shì rìcháng yìwù.

Doing housework is a daily duty.

你务必准时到达。

Nǐ wùbì zhǔnshí dàodá.

You must arrive on time.

他的业务能力很强。

Tā de yèwù nénglì hěn qiáng.

His business ability is very strong.

务实的态度很重要。

Wùshí de tàidù hěn zhòngyào.

A pragmatic attitude is very important.

公司财务事务由他负责。

Gōngsī cáiwù shìwù yóu tā fùzé.

The company's financial affairs are handled by him.

在复杂的事务中务必保持务实的精神。

Zài fùzá de shìwù zhōng wùbì bǎochí wùshí de jīngshén.

In complex affairs, one must maintain a pragmatic spirit.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 力

Component: 夂

务