役 yì servant
servant; laborer; service; to serve
How to remember 役: 彳 step forward + 殳 strike = servant. The rich man orders his gardener to step forward and strike at the weeds, as if he were only a servant.
Component breakdown
役 = 彳 step forward + 殳 strike
- 彳 step forward
- 殳 strike
The rich man orders his gardener to step forward and strike at the weeds, as if he were only a servant.
How it is used
- Service/labor/military duty: 服役 (fúyì) to serve in the army, 退役 (tuìyì) to be discharged/retire (from service or sport), 兵役 (bīngyì) conscription.
- Also a battle/campaign: 战役 (zhànyì) a military campaign, 淮海战役 the Huaihai Campaign.
- 奴役 (núyì) = to enslave.