具 jù tool
How to remember 具: 目 eye + 八 eight = tool. The watchmaker puts a loupe to her eye, looks over her eight tiny screwdrivers and holds up the perfect tool.
Component breakdown
具 = 目 eye + 八 eight
- 目 eye
- 八 eight
The watchmaker puts a loupe to her eye, looks over her eight tiny screwdrivers and holds up the perfect tool.
How it came to be
Two hands raised under a cauldron, setting it out. Getting the vessels ready is the picture; equipment, and having it, came from that.
How it is used
- Bound morpheme for 'tool/implement': 工具 (gōngjù) tool, 家具 (jiājù) furniture, 玩具 (wánjù) toy.
- Also a formal verb 'to possess/have': 具有 (jùyǒu) possess (an abstract quality), 具备 (jùbèi) have (the necessary conditions).
- 具体 (jùtǐ) 'concrete, specific' contrasts with 抽象 (chōuxiàng) abstract - 具体来说 (jùtǐ lái shuō) specifically speaking.
Characters built with 具
Words with 具
Example sentences
- 他把旧家具加工了一下。 Tā bǎ jiù jiājù jiāgōngle yíxià.He reworked some old furniture.
- 我们具有必胜的信心。 Wǒmen jùyǒu bìshèng de xìnxīn.We're confident of victory.
- 她在收拾餐具。 Tā zài shōushi cānjù.She's putting away the dinnerware.