侍 shì to serve
to serve; to attend upon; attendant
How to remember 侍: 亻 person + 寺 temple = to serve. Every morning a young person at the mountain temple brings tea to the old abbot, glad to serve him.
Component breakdown
侍 = 亻 person + 寺 temple
- 亻 person
- 寺 temple
Every morning a young person at the mountain temple brings tea to the old abbot, glad to serve him.
How it is used
- To wait upon / attend a superior - 侍候 (shìhòu) to wait on, 服侍 (fúshì) to attend and care for, 侍卫 (shìwèi) bodyguard/attendant.
- Implies serving someone of higher status (a master, elder, patient); more deferential than plain 服务 (to provide a service).