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义务 (yì wù) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 5

义务 (yì wù) is a Chinese word: obligation. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 义务

名 míng noun

obligation

每个公民都有纳税的义务。

měi gè gōng mín dōu yǒu nà shuì de yì wù

Every citizen has the obligation to pay taxes.

形 xíng adjective

obligatory, compulsory; duty, obligation

义务教育是免费的。

yì wù jiào yù shì miǎn fèi de

Compulsory education is free.

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Word breakdown

义 yì — righteousness, moral obligation, what is right

Words with this character (16)
Show more (+11)
  • 6 义工 yì gōng — volunteer HSK 7
    • 义 voluntary, righteous (indicating unpaid, willing service)
    • 工 work, worker (the labor or person performing the service)
    Example

    她每周末都去医院做义工。

    tā měi zhōu mò dōu qù yī yuàn zuò yì gōng

    She goes to the hospital to volunteer every weekend.

  • 7 名义 míng yì — nominal; in the name of HSK 7
    • 名 name; title
    • 义 meaning; significance; justification
    Example

    他以公司的名义签订了合同。

    tā yǐ gōng sī de míng yì qiān dìng le hé tong

    He signed the contract in the name of the company.

  • 8 天经地义 tiān jīng dì yì — right and proper; unquestionable truth HSK 7
    • 天 heaven; represents universal/cosmic order
    • 经 classics/principles; represents established truths
    • 地 earth; represents earthly/worldly order
    • 义 righteousness/justice; represents moral correctness
    Example

    父母爱孩子是天经地义的。

    fù mǔ ài hái zi shì tiān jīng dì yì de

    It is natural and right for parents to love their children.

  • 9 广义 guǎng yì — broad sense HSK 7
    • 广 broad, wide, extensive
    • 义 sense, meaning, significance
    Example

    广义的教育包括家庭教育和社会教育。

    guǎng yì de jiào yù bāo kuò jiā tíng jiào yù hé shè huì jiào yù

    Education in the broad sense includes family education and social education.

  • 10 断章取义 duàn zhāng qǔ yì — quote out of context HSK 7
    • 断 cut off, sever (text)
    • 章 chapter, passage
    • 取 take, select
    • 义 meaning, interpretation
    Example

    不要断章取义，要完整地理解原文的意思。

    bú yào duàn zhāng qǔ yì yào wán zhěng de lǐ jiě yuán wén de yì si

    Don't quote out of context; you should understand the original text's meaning completely.

  • 11 狭义 xiá yì — narrow sense HSK 7
    • 狭 narrow, limited
    • 义 meaning, sense
    Example

    狭义和广义的区别很重要。

    xiá yì hé guǎng yì de qū bié hěn zhòng yào

    The distinction between narrow sense and broad sense is very important.

  • 12 社会主义 shè huì zhǔ yì — socialism HSK 7
    • 社 society, community
    • 会 society, assembly (forms 'society' with 社)
    • 主 main, principal (forms '-ism' suffix with 义)
    • 义 principle, doctrine (forms '-ism' suffix with 主)
    Example

    他正在研究社会主义理论。

    tā zhèng zài yán jiū shè huì zhǔ yì lǐ lùn

    He is studying socialist theory.

  • 13 见义勇为 jiàn yì yǒng wéi — to act bravely for a just cause HSK 7
    • 见 to see, to witness
    • 义 righteousness, justice
    • 勇 brave, courageous
    • 为 to act, to do
    Example

    他见义勇为，救了落水的孩子。

    tā jiàn yì yǒng wéi jiù le luò shuǐ de hái zi

    He acted bravely for justice and saved the drowning child.

  • 14 见利忘义 jiàn lì wàng yì — to forsake justice for personal gain HSK 7
    • 见 to see, to encounter
    • 利 profit, benefit, gain
    • 忘 to forget, to neglect
    • 义 righteousness, justice, loyalty
    Example

    那个商人见利忘义，出卖了朋友的商业秘密。

    nà ge shāng rén jiàn lì wàng yì chū mài le péng you de shāng yè mì mì

    That businessman forsook justice for personal gain and betrayed his friend's business secrets.

  • 15 资本主义 zī běn zhǔ yì — capitalism HSK 7
    • 资 capital, resources
    • 本 foundation, basis (forms 'capital' with 资)
    • 主 main, master (indicates primary doctrine)
    • 义 principle, -ism (suffix for doctrines/ideologies)
    Example

    资本主义和社会主义是两种不同的经济制度。

    zī běn zhǔ yì hé shè huì zhǔ yì shì liǎng zhǒng bù tóng de jīng jì zhì dù

    Capitalism and socialism are two different economic systems.

  • 16 顾名思义 gù míng sī yì — as the name suggests HSK 7
    • 顾 to consider, pay attention to
    • 名 name, designation
    • 思 to think about, ponder
    • 义 meaning, significance
    Example

    这种植物叫'含羞草'，顾名思义，它的叶子碰到就会收缩。

    zhè zhǒng zhí wù jiào hán xiū cǎo gù míng sī yì tā de yè zi pèng dào jiù huì shōu suō

    This plant is called 'mimosa'; as the name suggests, its leaves shrink when touched.

务 wù — must do, task, responsibility

Words with this character (22)
  • 1 服务 fú wù — to serve HSK 3
    • 服 to attend to, to serve
    • 务 affairs, work, duties
    Example

    我们致力于服务客户。

    wǒ men zhì lì yú fú wù kè hù

    We are committed to serving our customers.

  • 2 任务 rèn wù — task HSK 4
    • 任 to bear, duty, responsibility
    • 务 affair, work, matter
    Example

    我们必须完成这个任务。

    wǒ men bì xū wán chéng zhè ge rèn wù

    We must complete this task.

  • 3 业务 yè wù — business HSK 5
    • 业 profession/industry
    • 务 affairs/tasks
    Example

    他负责公司的市场业务。

    tā fù zé gōng sī de shì chǎng yè wù

    He is responsible for the company's marketing business.

  • 4 乘务员 chéng wù yuán — crew member HSK 5
    • 乘 ride, travel by vehicle; indicates passenger transportation
    • 务 service, duty; indicates the service aspect of the work
    • 员 member, staff; indicates a person who performs this role
    Example

    她是一名高铁乘务员。

    tā shì yī míng gāo tiě chéng wù yuán

    She is a high-speed rail crew member.

  • 5 公务员 gōng wù yuán — civil servant HSK 5
    • 公 public, government
    • 务 affairs, duties
    • 员 personnel, member
    Example

    他通过考试成为了一名公务员。

    tā tōng guò kǎo shì chéng wéi le yì míng gōng wù yuán

    He became a civil servant by passing the exam.

Show more (+17)
  • 6 商务 shāng wù — business HSK 5
    • 商 commerce, trade
    • 务 affairs, matters
    Example

    这次商务旅行很成功。

    zhè cì shāng wù lǚ xíng hěn chéng gōng

    This business trip was very successful.

  • 7 家务 jiā wù — household chores HSK 5
    • 家 home, household
    • 务 affairs, work, tasks
    Example

    我每天都要做很多家务。

    wǒ měi tiān dōu yào zuò hěn duō jiā wù

    I have to do a lot of household chores every day.

  • 8 事务 shì wù — affairs HSK 6
    • 事 matters, business, things
    • 务 work, duties, tasks
    Example

    他负责处理公司的日常事务。

    tā fù zé chǔ lǐ gōng sī de rì cháng shì wù

    He is responsible for handling the company's daily affairs.

  • 9 职务 zhí wù — post HSK 6
    • 职 occupation, official position
    • 务 duties, affairs, responsibilities
    Example

    他的职务是部门经理。

    tā de zhí wù shì bù mén jīng lǐ

    His post is department manager.

  • 10 财务 cái wù — finance HSK 6
    • 财 financial, monetary
    • 务 affairs, matters, business
    Example

    他负责公司的财务工作。

    tā fù zé gōng sī de cái wù gōng zuò

    He is responsible for the company's financial work.

  • 11 事务所 shì wù suǒ — firm, office HSK 7
    • 事 matters, business, affairs
    • 务 affairs, duties, business tasks
    • 所 place, location, office establishment
    Example

    他在一家律师事务所工作。

    tā zài yì jiā lǜ shī shì wù suǒ gōng zuò

    He works at a law firm.

  • 12 债务 zhài wù — debt HSK 7
    • 债 debt, money owed
    • 务 affair, obligation, matter
    Example

    他需要尽快偿还债务。

    tā xū yào jǐn kuài cháng huán zhài wù

    He needs to repay his debts as soon as possible.

  • 13 公务 gōng wù — official business HSK 7
    • 公 official, public, governmental
    • 务 affairs, business, matters
    Example

    他因为公务出差了。

    tā yīn wèi gōng wù chū chāi le

    He went on a business trip for official business.

  • 14 务实 wù shí — pragmatic HSK 7
    • 务 devote oneself to, attend to
    • 实 reality, practical matters, substance
    Example

    他做事很务实，从不好高骛远。

    tā zuò shì hěn wù shí cóng bù hào gāo wù yuǎn

    He is very pragmatic in his work and never aims too high.

  • 15 务工 wù gōng — to work as a migrant worker HSK 7
    • 务 to engage in, to be engaged in
    • 工 work, labor
    Example

    他到城里务工，每月寄钱回家。

    tā dào chéng lǐ wù gōng měi yuè jì qián huí jiā

    He went to the city to work as a migrant worker and sends money home every month.

  • 16 务必 wù bì — must; be sure to HSK 7
    • 务 duty; obligation; matters requiring attention
    • 必 must; certainly; inevitably
    Example

    请务必记住这个重要信息。

    qǐng wù bì jì zhù zhè ge zhòng yào xìn xī

    Please be sure to remember this important information.

  • 17 劳务 láo wù — labor service HSK 7
    • 劳 labor, work
    • 务 service, affairs
    Example

    他从事劳务工作。

    tā cóng shì láo wù gōng zuò

    He engages in labor service work.

  • 18 医务 yī wù — medical affairs HSK 7
    • 医 medical
    • 务 affairs, service
    Example

    他在医院的医务部工作。

    tā zài yī yuàn de yī wù bù gōng zuò

    He works in the hospital's medical affairs department.

  • 19 国务院 guó wù yuàn — State Council HSK 7
    • 国 state, nation
    • 务 affairs, matters
    • 院 council, institution
    Example

    国务院发布了新的经济政策。

    guó wù yuàn fā bù le xīn de jīng jì zhèng cè

    The State Council issued new economic policies.

  • 20 当务之急 dāng wù zhī jí — top priority HSK 7
    • 当 current, present
    • 务 affair, task, matter
    • 之 possessive particle (classical)
    • 急 urgent, pressing
    Example

    提高教育质量是国家的当务之急。

    tí gāo jiào yù zhì liàng shì guó jiā de dāng wù zhī jí

    Improving education quality is the nation's top priority.

  • 21 服务器 fú wù qì — server HSK 7
    • 服 to serve, service
    • 务 affairs, work, service
    • 器 device, machine, apparatus
    Example

    公司的服务器出现了故障。

    gōng sī de fú wù qì chū xiàn le gù zhàng

    The company's server has malfunctioned.

  • 22 税务 shuì wù — taxation HSK 7
    • 税 tax
    • 务 affairs, matters
    Example

    他在税务局工作。

    tā zài shuì wù jú gōng zuò

    He works at the tax bureau.

Structure & writing
1 义 yì — justice; righteous principle or moral conduct
义 is a component in 3 characters
HSK 3
议 yì to discuss; to deliberate
HSK 6
仪 yí appearance and bearing; demeanor 蚁 yǐ ant (small insect living in colonies, typically black, brown, or red, with threadlike or clubbed antennae and a narrow waist)

consists of

1.1 丶 zhǔ — dot stroke; ancient punctuation mark, now a basic stroke component
丶 is a component in 21 characters
HSK 1
太 tài high; great
HSK 2
为 wéi to do; to act
HSK 3
主 zhǔ owner; one who possesses property or power 勺 sháo ladle; spoon (a handled utensil for scooping)
HSK 4
乓 pāng onomatopoeia for gunshots, slamming doors, or crashing sounds 压 yā to press down on an object (often from above) 尤 yóu exceptional; outstanding 户 hù single-panel door; door in general 术 shù skill; technique; art; learning
HSK 5
义 yì justice; righteous principle or moral conduct 兔 tù rabbit; hare (mammal with large ears, split upper lip, short tail, and strong hind legs, known for swift running and jumping; includes domestic and wild varieties; fur used for textiles and clothing) 叉 chā fork (a utensil with two or more tines at one end and a handle at the other) 玉 yù jade; a fine-grained, hard, lustrous mineral used for ornaments and carvings 良 liáng good; excellent
HSK 6
凡 fán ordinary, commonplace 匆 cōng hurried; hasty
HSK 7
丸 wán small round object (〜子, 〜儿) 斥 chì to reprimand; to scold 犬 quǎn dog 琢 zuó to ponder repeatedly; to mull over (见"琢磨") 蔑 miè (lit.) nothing, without
1.2 乂 yì — to govern; to bring order and stability
乂 is a component in 11 characters
HSK 2
希 xī to hope; to wish for 网 wǎng net (for catching fish, birds, or animals)
HSK 3
区 qū to distinguish; to divide 史 shǐ history; historical records and the study of history 更 gēng to change; to replace; to substitute
HSK 5
义 yì justice; righteous principle or moral conduct
HSK 6
杀 shā to kill; to cause the death of a person or animal
HSK 7
凶 xiōng inauspicious; ominous (of death, disaster, etc., opposite of 吉) 卤 lǔ bittern; the bitter black liquid remaining after salt crystallization, a mixture of magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate, magnesium bromide, and sodium chloride 肴 yáo cooked meat or fish dishes 艾 ài mugwort (perennial herb used in medicine and moxibustion; also called 艾蒿)

Stroke order

2 务 wù — affair; matter
务 is a component in 1 characters
HSK 5
雾 wù fog; mist (tiny water droplets suspended near the ground when temperature drops)

consists of

2.1 夂 zhǐ — arriving from behind, following after
夂 is a component in 14 characters
HSK 1
条 tiáo a long narrow strip
HSK 2
备 bèi to possess, to be equipped with
HSK 3
冬 dōng winter (the fourth and coldest season) 务 wù affair; matter 处 chù place; location 复 fù to repeat; to do more than once 夏 xià summer (the second of the four seasons)
HSK 4
各 gè each; every (referring to different persons or things) 降 jiàng to fall; to descend (opposite of 升)
HSK 5
傻 shǎ foolish, stupid
HSK 6
麦 mài grain crops including barley, wheat, rye, and oats
HSK 7
囱 cōng chimney; flue for stove or boiler 惫 bèi (lit.) exhausted; extremely fatigued 隆 lóng grand; magnificent
2.2 力 lì — force (physical interaction between objects causing acceleration or deformation)
力 is a component in 32 characters
HSK 1
男 nán male (opposite of "female") 边 biān border between countries or regions
HSK 2
为 wéi to do; to act 动 dòng to move; to change position or leave a state of rest (opposite of '静')
HSK 3
办 bàn to handle; to deal with 加 jiā to add together; to combine two or more things or numbers 务 wù affair; matter 助 zhù to help, to assist 努 nǔ to exert (strength) to the utmost
Show more HSK 3 characters (+1)
历 lì to experience; to go through
HSK 4
功 gōng merit; achievement (opposite of 过) 励 lì to encourage; to strive 勇 yǒng brave and bold, unafraid of danger or difficulty 另 lìng other; another
HSK 5
劝 quàn to persuade; to convince someone by presenting facts and reasoning 劳 láo to labor; human activity of creating material or spiritual wealth 势 shì apparent form or condition: ① natural phenomenon or situation in nature; ② posture or gesture of movement; ③ situation or circumstances in political, military, or social affairs 勤 qín diligent; hardworking (opposite of lazy) 幼 yòu young; immature (opposite of 老)
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
穷 qióng poor, impoverished (opposite of 富)
HSK 6
劣 liè inferior, bad (opposite of 优) 勉 miǎn to strive; to exert oneself 抛 pāo to throw; to toss
HSK 7
劫 jié to rob; to plunder 勃 bó (lit.) thriving; vigorous 勋 xūn distinguished merit; special achievement 勒 lēi bind or loop with a rope and pull tight 勘 kān to proofread and verify; to collate
Show more HSK 7 characters (+4)
募 mù to recruit or solicit broadly (funds, troops, etc.) 夯 hāng a rammer or tamper used to compact foundations (wooden, stone, or iron) 筋 jīn tendon or ligament connecting muscle to bone 虏 lǔ to capture (in battle)

Stroke order