About
The character "役" derives from an early association with military service, evident in its structural formation combining the radical "彳", indicating movement or conduct, with the component "殳", representing a hand-held weapon or tool, thus conceptually linking to armed mobilization or compelled labor. Its original meaning focused on concrete duties such as conscription and forced service, but over centuries, the term's application gradually extended to include broader administrative and social obligations, moving from specific martial contexts to general functions and responsibilities. This semantic widening allowed the character to acquire its modern senses of official position, assigned task, and even the role played in a performance, marking a transition from physical service to abstract function.
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。