The word 服务 (fúwù, meaning "to serve" or "service") is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core concept to create a unified idea. The first character, 服 (fú), carries the ancient sense of submitting to a duty or attending to someone, evoking a posture of deference and execution. The second, 务 (wù), fundamentally means "affair", "task", or "duty", focusing on the concrete matter or work to be done. Together, they conceptually merge the act of devoted attendance with the object of that duty, forming the complete notion of actively carrying out tasks for the benefit of another, which is the essence of service.