Definitions
(noun)
military service; war; battle
(noun)
forced labor; corvée; obligatory task
(verb)
to use as servant; to employ
About
The character 役 (yì) combines the step radical 彳 (chì), indicating movement or marching, with 殳 (shū), a weapon or act of striking. This structure points to its origins in military conscription or armed service. The meaning later expanded to include mandatory labor, civic duties, and public works, ultimately referring broadly to service, duty, or employment as a servant.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他在军队服役。
兵役是公民的义务。
这场战役非常激烈。
他退役后开始了新生活。
古代有劳役制度。
役使牲畜是传统农业的一部分。
衙役在县衙里当差。
这场战役的胜利改变了历史。