务 (wù) is a Chinese character meaning “affair”. It is written from 夂 (trailing foot; to go slowly) and 力 (strength; power), one above the other, and takes 5 strokes.
Build the character for “affair; duty”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
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Structure
夂 + 力
Top–bottom structure
Structure from: hanzi-writer-data 2.0.1 modern glyph stroke inspection (务 5 = 夂 3 + 力 2)
Memory aid
A foot walking up (夂) and stopping right on top of strength (力): something has come to you, and it takes effort — that is a duty you have to see to.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
5 strokes
In real words
- 义务yì wùduty; obligation务 = wù
- 公务gōng wùofficial business; public affairs务 = wù
- 任务rèn wùtask; mission; assignment务 = wù
- 债务zhài wùdebt; liabilities务 = wù
- 国务卿guó wù qīngSecretary of State (e.g. of the United States)务 = wù
Go deeper
All readings
affair; duty
affair; business; duty; to be engaged in; must; be sure to
事情；应当做的事。也表示从事、致力，或「必须」的意思。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 义务yì wùduty; obligation务 = wù
- 公务gōng wùofficial business; public affairs务 = wù
- 任务rèn wùtask; mission; assignment务 = wù
- 债务zhài wùdebt; liabilities务 = wù
- 国务卿guó wù qīngSecretary of State (e.g. of the United States)务 = wù
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 务 mean?
务 (wù) means affair; business; duty; to be engaged in; must; be sure to.
How do you pronounce 务?
It is pronounced wù.
What parts is 务 made of?
夂 (trailing foot; to go slowly) and 力 (strength; power), one above the other. The recorded source is: hanzi-writer-data 2.0.1 modern glyph stroke inspection (务 5 = 夂 3 + 力 2). Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 务 have?
5. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 务?
力. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 务?
Common ones are 义务 and 公务. The reading of 务 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.