义务 meaning in English
duty; obligation (CL:項|项[xiang4]); volunteer (work etc)
Meaning of 义务
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- duty; obligation (CL:項|项[xiang4])
- volunteer (work etc)
How to use 义务
义务 is used for legal or moral obligations, often paired with 权利 (quánlì, rights). It also works as a modifier meaning unpaid or voluntary, as in 义务劳动 (yìwù láodòng, volunteer labor). Example: 保护环境是每个人的义务。(Bǎohù huánjìng shì měi gè rén de yìwù.) Protecting the environment is everyone's duty.
义 (yì) means righteousness or what is right, and 务 (wù) means affairs or work, as in 服务 (fúwù). Work you do because it is right is your 义务, your duty.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 义务 (yìwù) with 意义 (yìyì, meaning), since both contain 义 and start with a fourth tone yì. Also do not write 务 as 各 or 条. The top part is 夂 and the bottom is 力.
义务 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
义 yì · right conduct · 3 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
务 wù · affairs · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 义务.
| 服务 | fúwù | to serve; service |
| 任务 | rènwu | mission; assignment; task; duty; role |
| 意义 | yìyì | sense; meaning |
| 服务员 | fúwùyuán | waiter; waitress |
| 公务员 | gōngwùyuán | civil servant; public servant |
| 含义 | hányì | meaning (implicit in a phrase); implied meaning |
| 家务 | jiāwù | household duties; housework |
| 商务 | shāngwù | commercial affairs; commercial |
| 正义 | zhèngyì | justice; righteousness; just; righteous |
| 业务 | yèwù | business; professional work |
| 职务 | zhíwù | post; position |
| 名义 | míngyì | name; titular |
Questions about 义务
What does 义务 mean?
义务 (yìwù) means "duty; obligation (CL:項|项[xiang4]); volunteer (work etc)" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 义务?
义务 is made of 2 characters: 义 (3 strokes), 务 (5 strokes). That is 8 strokes in total.
Is 义务 an HSK word?
Yes. 义务 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 义务 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 义务 is written 義務.
What is the difference between 义务 and 任务?
义务 is a duty or obligation you have by law or morality, like paying taxes. 任务 (rènwu) is a specific task or assignment given to you, like a work project.
Does 义务 mean free of charge?
Yes, when used before another noun it can mean unpaid or voluntary. For example, 义务教育 (yìwù jiàoyù) is compulsory free education, and 义务工作 means volunteer work.