Definitions

(noun) clothes; apparel
(verb) to serve; to obey
(verb) to take (medicine)
(noun) dose (of medicine)

Etymology

Combination of (plate) and subdue (𠬝). Based on the original meaning "serve" or "submit". alludes to serving a plate.

About

The character "服" originally conveyed meanings of submission and service, with its traditional form consisting of the components "月" and "㔾", which derive from earlier pictorial elements representing a boat and a hand, thus associated with actions of handling or obligation. Over time, its semantic range extended to include clothing and the act of wearing, likely due to the relationship between attire and social roles or the way garments fit the body.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我买了一件新衣

Wǒ mǎi le yī jiàn xīn yīfu.

I bought a new piece of clothing.

这家餐厅务很好。

Zhè jiā cāntīng fúwù hěn hǎo.

This restaurant's service is very good.

学生应该从老师。

Xuéshēng yīnggāi fúcóng lǎoshī.

Students should obey the teacher.

医生让我用这种药。

Yīshēng ràng wǒ fúyòng zhè zhǒng yào.

The doctor asked me to take this medicine.

这张床睡起来很舒

Zhè zhāng chuáng shuì qǐlái hěn shūfu.

This bed is very comfortable to sleep on.

我十分佩他的勇气。

Wǒ shífēn pèifú tā de yǒngqì.

I greatly admire his courage.

他对比赛结果不气。

Tā duì bǐsài jiéguǒ bù fúqì.

He is not convinced by the competition result.

他因犯罪正在刑。

Tā yīn fànzuì zhèngzài fúxíng.

He is serving a sentence due to crime.