Core Meanings
The character 服 (fú) primarily means "clothes" or "clothing" in everyday contexts. It also functions as a verb meaning "to obey" or "to submit," and as a verb meaning "to take (medicine)".
Usage Notes
When referring to clothing, 服 is often combined with 装 (zhuāng) to form 服装, meaning "outfit" or "attire." As a verb, 服 can indicate submission or obedience, often used in formal or literary contexts. When talking about medicine, 服药 means "to take medicine," a common collocation.
Common Collocations
Register and Tone
服 is a neutral character but its verbal uses (服从, 服药) tend to appear in formal or written language. The clothing sense is very common in daily speech.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse 服 (clothes) with 衣 (yī), which also means clothes but is more general. Also, 服 as "to obey" is different from 受 (shòu), which can mean "to receive" or "to endure."