处 (chǔ) - to handle & to deal with

处Tone 3

chǔ ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 夂

橙丁

处 · chǔ

to handle;

to deal with;

to manage;

to be situated in;

a place;

department;

also pronounced chù meaning place, location, office.

to handleto deal withto manage

Usage highlights

Handle affairsProcess/Deal withSituation/CircumstancesPunishManage a householdGet along with people

Synonyms

  • 处理— to handle, to process
  • 处置— to deal with, to dispose
  • 办理— to handle, to transact

Antonyms

  • 搁置— to shelve, to postpone
  • 逃避— to evade, to avoid

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is good at handling difficult situations (处事).
  • The office is located downtown (办事处).
  • We need to deal with this problem (处理问题).
  • She is in a difficult position (处境困难).

Collocations

  • Handle affairs(处事)
  • Process/Deal with(处理)
  • Situation/Circumstances(处境)
  • Punish(处罚)
  • Manage a household(处家)
  • Get along with people(相处)

Idioms

  • Handle matters with ease(处事泰然)
  • Be in a difficult position(处境尴尬)
  • Punish without mercy(严惩不处)
  • Get along harmoniously(和睦相处)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character combines 夂 (walking slowly) and 卜 (divination), suggesting careful consideration in decision-making.
  • Reflects the Confucian value of proper conduct and handling relationships appropriately.
  • In modern context, widely used in administrative and managerial terminology.

FAQ