処 (chǔ) - To handle & to manage

処Tone 3

chǔ ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 夂

橙丁

処 · chǔ

To handle;

to manage;

to deal with;

to punish;

a place;

location;

department.

To handleto manageto deal with

Usage highlights

Handle affairsDepartment headPersonnel departmentDeal withPunishOffice

Synonyms

  • 处理— to handle; to deal with
  • 处置— to manage; to dispose
  • 办理— to handle; to transact

Antonyms

  • 搁置— to shelve; to put aside
  • 放任— to let alone; to neglect

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He knows how to handle affairs (处事).
  • This is the dean's office (处长办公室).
  • She works in the personnel department (人事处).
  • The court will punish the criminal (处治罪犯).

Collocations

  • Handle affairs(处事)
  • Department head(处长)
  • Personnel department(人事处)
  • Deal with(处理)
  • Punish(处罚)
  • Office(办事处)

Idioms

  • Set up a home and pursue a career(成家立业)
  • Handle matters with ease(应付自如)
  • Be at a loss what to do(不知所措)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a person stopping and resting; later extended to mean 'place' and 'to handle'.
  • Used in administrative contexts for departments and offices in government and organizations.
  • Appears in both modern simplified and traditional Chinese writing systems.

FAQ