服 fú clothes
clothes; to take medicine; to be convinced; to serve; to submit
How to remember 服: 月 moon + 𠬝 master = clothes. By the light of the moon the old chess master irons his best clothes for tomorrow's final.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
originally 凡 + 𠬝
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
服 = 月 moon + 𠬝 master
- 月 moon shape only
- 𠬝 master sound
By the light of the moon the old chess master irons his best clothes for tomorrow's final.
How it came to be
The oracle bone form joins a tray and the sign for to subdue, which gave the sound; the tray later turned into a boat, then a moon.
How it is used
- Several senses bundled in one character. Clothing: 衣服 (yīfú) clothes, 服装 (fúzhuāng) apparel.
- 'To serve / submit / be convinced': 服务 (fúwù) serve, 佩服 (pèifú) admire, 说服 (shuōfú) persuade.
- Reading note: 'to take medicine' is also this character: 服药 (fú yào) take medicine.
Words with 服
- 衣服yīfúclothesHSK 1
- 舒服shūfucomfortableHSK 2
- 服务fúwùto serveHSK 3
- 克服kèfúovercome (hardships etc)HSK 5
- 客服kèfúcustomer serviceHSK 5
- 服装fúzhuāngdressHSK 5
- 说服shuōfúto persuadeHSK 5
- 佩服pèifúto admireHSK 6
- 服从fúcóngto obey (an order)HSK 6
- 服用fúyòngto take (medicine)HSK 6
- 羽绒服yǔróngfúdown-filled garmentHSK 6
- 不服bùfúnot to accept somethingHSK 7
- 服气fúqìto be convincedHSK 7
- 汉服Hànfútraditional Han Chinese attireHSK 7
- 礼服lǐfúceremonial robeHSK 7
- 制服zhìfúwhat one is allowed to wear depending on social statusHSK 7
- 制服zhìfúto subdueHSK 8
- 屈服qūfúto surrenderHSK 8
- 征服zhēngfúto conquerHSK 8
- 服务器fúwùqìserver (computer)HSK 9
- 服饰fúshìapparelHSK 9
Example sentences
- 这件衣服怎么样？ Zhè jiàn yīfu zěnmeyàng?How do you like this dress?
- 这件衣服多少钱？ Zhè jiàn yīfu duōshǎo qián?How much does the suit cost?
- 这件衣服很便宜。 Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn piányi.These clothes are very cheap.
- 儿子会自己洗衣服。 Érzi huì zìjǐ xǐ yīfu.My son can do the laundry by himself.