部 (bù) - Part, section, division & ministry, department

部Tone 4

bù ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

不偲

部 · bù

Part, section, division;

ministry, department;

headquarters;

measure word for books, films;

to command, to govern.

Part, section, divisionministry, departmentheadquarters

Usage highlights

MinistryDepartmentHeadquartersPart/VolumeInternal affairsExternal affairs

Synonyms

  • 分— part, division
  • 门— door, gate; branch, division
  • 处— office, department

Antonyms

  • 整— whole, entire
  • 全— whole, complete

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The Ministry of Education(教育部)
  • This is the first part of the book (这本书的第一部).
  • The headquarters is located downtown (总部位于市中心).
  • He works in the sales department (销售部).

Collocations

  • Ministry(部)
  • Department(部门)
  • Headquarters(总部)
  • Part/Volume(部分)
  • Internal affairs(内部)
  • External affairs(外部)

Idioms

  • According to the plan, step by step(按部就班)
  • All parts working in coordination(各部协调)
  • Divide into parts(分部进行)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a mound or hill (𨸏阜 radical) with the sound component 咅, later specializing in administrative and organizational meanings.
  • Used extensively in governmental and organizational contexts to denote ministries, departments, and headquarters.
  • Functions as a measure word for complete works like books, films, and series, reflecting its sense of a complete unit or section.

FAQ