Meaning and Usage
The character 值 primarily means "value" or "worth," referring to the price or importance of something. It is commonly used to express whether something is worth the cost or effort. Another frequent use is in the context of work shifts, where 值班 means "to be on duty" or "to take a shift."
Common Collocations
- 值钱 (zhí qián): to be valuable or expensive
- 值得 (zhí dé): to be worth (doing something)
- 值班 (zhí bān): to be on duty, to take a shift
Usage Notes
When used to express worth, 值 often appears in phrases like 值得, which is followed by a verb to indicate that an action is worthwhile. In the context of shifts, 值班 is a fixed phrase meaning to work a scheduled period. Avoid confusing 值 with 价 (jià), which more specifically means "price" rather than "value" or "worth."
Register and Tone
The word 值 is neutral and commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese. It fits well in everyday conversation, business contexts, and formal writing when discussing value or duty shifts.