伺 cì to serve
to serve; to wait upon; to attend
怎么记住“伺”: 亻 person + 司 department = to serve. At the hotel, every person from the room service department is trained to serve to each guest.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
伺 = 亻 person + 司 department
- 亻 person meaning
- 司 department sound
- 𠃌 blade
- 𠮛 piled up
At the hotel, every person from the room service department is trained to serve to each guest.
How it came to be
The person gives the meaning and the right part gives the sound: someone standing by to serve.
用法
- To wait upon / attend, and to watch for a chance: 伺候 (cìhou) to wait on/serve someone, 伺机 (sìjī) to bide one's time for an opportunity.
- Note the two readings: cì in 伺候 (to serve), but sì elsewhere (伺机, 窥伺). A classic reading trap.
- 伺机 carries a slightly scheming edge: waiting to pounce.