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March 24, 2026
務wù(wu4)
The character 務 (wù) primarily means 'affairs' or 'business,' often associated with duties or responsibilities. It can imply something that must be done or is necessary, indicating obligation. In contexts like '務必' (wù bì), it emphasizes the necessity of an action.
Strokes11Radical力Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese business culture, the concept of 務 is integral to understanding professional obligations and responsibilities. The importance placed on duties reflects the value of hard work and commitment in the workplace.
Memory Tip
Imagine a busy office where workers are engaged in various affairs (務). The left part of the character resembles a person, and the right part can be visualized as a task or duty they must complete. Think of 'wù' as a 'to-do' list that one must tackle.
Meanings of 務
wù(wu4)
1affairs, business; should; must
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 務
務Simplified
11Strokes
力Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 務
Podcast: 務
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AI Study Notes for 務
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a busy office where workers are engaged in various affairs (務). The left part of the character resembles a person, and the right part can be visualized as a task or duty they must complete. Think of 'wù' as a 'to-do' list that one must tackle.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 務 with 务 (wù), which is a simplified form used in mainland China. This character is more formal and might appear in written documents rather than in everyday conversation. Be cautious with tone; the correct pronunciation is with a falling tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 務 is not part of the official HSK levels, it is useful for learners at HSK 5 and above due to its appearance in more complex phrases. Focus on its usage in formal contexts and common collocations like 務必 and 事务 (shìwù, affairs).
Cultural Note
In Chinese business culture, the concept of 務 is integral to understanding professional obligations and responsibilities. The importance placed on duties reflects the value of hard work and commitment in the workplace.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 務 with 务, mistakenly using the latter in formal contexts. For example, saying '務工作' (wù gōngzuò) instead of '工作事务' (gōngzuò shìwù) to refer to work affairs is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 務
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六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Simplified form of 務. Phonosemantic compount. 矛 represents the sound, while 攵 and 力 both represent the meaning. The traditional component 矛 was removed for simplification.
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Cultural Notes for 務
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese business culture, the concept of 務 is integral to understanding professional obligations and responsibilities. The importance placed on duties reflects the value of hard work and commitment in the workplace.
Word Family of 務
Words Containing This Character20
任务rènwumission任務
服务fúwùto serve服務
业务yèwùbusiness業務
事务所shìwùsuǒoffice事務所
义务yìwùduty義務
财务cáiwùfinancial affairs財務
国务院guówùyuànState Council (PRC)國務院
商务shāngwùcommercial商務
事务shìwùwork事務
服务员fúwùyuánwaiter服務員
服务器fúwùqìserver (computer)服務器
职务zhíwùpost職務
债务zhàiwùdebt債務
服务生server (at a restaurant)服務生
公务员gōngwùyuánfunctionary公務員
务wùaffair務
家务jiāwùhousework家務
公务gōngwùofficial business公務
医务yīwùmedical affairs醫務
税务shuìwùtaxation services稅務
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 任务 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 務
In business, 務 refers to affairs or responsibilities that need to be managed.
You can use it in a phrase like '務必完成' (wù bì wán chéng), meaning 'must complete'.
It is more commonly found in written or formal contexts rather than in casual conversation.
