服

• Pinyin: fú
• Hanzi breakdown: 服 = 月 (meat/body) + 卩 (kneeling person) — originally showing submission, extended to taking medicine and being convinced

Meaning

To take (medicine); to be convinced; to submit to. A versatile verb with meanings related to consumption and acceptance.

Multiple meanings: (1) Take medicine: 服药/服用 (take medication), 口服 (oral administration); (2) Be convinced: 服气 (be convinced), 不服 (unconvinced, defiant), 心服口服 (completely convinced); (3) Submit: 服从 (obey), 屈服 (yield). Often seen in medical instructions and expressions of respect or defiance.

Examples

1. 这种药请每天饭后服用，一次两粒。 Please take this medicine after meals every day, two pills at a time.
2. 他的技术确实高超，我服了。 His skills are truly superb — I'm convinced.
3. 她性格倔强，从来不轻易服输。 She has a stubborn personality and never easily admits defeat.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, competition, daily life

Tone: varies

Do Say

• 这药要空腹服用。(This medicine should be taken on an empty stomach.)
• 你这次赢得漂亮，我服！(You won beautifully this time — I'm impressed!)

Don't Say

• 把服和吃完全等同 (Don't use 服 and 吃 interchangeably — 服 is more formal and specifically used for medicine; 吃药 is casual, 服药 is formal)

Origin & History

Originally depicted a person kneeling (submitting). Extended meanings include taking medicine (submitting the body to treatment) and being convinced (submitting one's opinion).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal