yìwù: 义务 - Duty, Obligation

• Keywords: 义务, yiwu, Chinese for duty, Chinese for obligation, compulsory education, yiwu jiaoyu, 义务 vs 责任, meaning of yiwu, social obligation in China, volunteer work in Chinese, moral duty
• Summary: The Chinese word 义务 (yìwù) translates to “duty” or “obligation,” but it carries a deep cultural weight beyond a simple task. It refers to a fundamental, often selfless, responsibility tied to one's role in society—as a citizen, a parent, or even just a good person. Understanding 义务 (yìwù) is key to grasping core Chinese social values, from the importance of compulsory education (义务教育) to the moral imperative to care for family. This page will break down its meaning, cultural context, and practical use, contrasting it with similar terms like 责任 (zérèn).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yìwù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A moral, social, or legal duty or obligation that one is bound to perform, often without personal reward.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 义务 (yìwù) not as a task you're assigned, but as a “must-do” that comes with your identity. It's the inherent duty of a parent to a child, a citizen to their country, or a doctor to their patient. It’s often unpaid and driven by a sense of principle and social role rather than personal gain.

• 义 (yì): This character is rich with meaning, commonly translating to righteousness, justice, principle, or what is morally right. Think of it as the “right thing to do.”
• 务 (wù): This character means an affair, a task, or business. It refers to the matter or action that needs to be handled.
• When combined, 义务 (yìwù) literally means a “righteous task” or an “affair of principle.” This beautifully captures the essence of the word: a duty that is performed not because it's easy or profitable, but because it is the right and just thing to do based on one's role and principles.

In Chinese culture, 义务 (yìwù) is a cornerstone of social structure, heavily influenced by Confucian thought. The idea that every person has a defined role (e.g., parent, child, ruler, subject) and must fulfill the obligations associated with that role is central to maintaining social harmony. A powerful way to understand 义务 (yìwù) is to contrast it with the Western emphasis on “rights” (权利, quánlì). While a Western perspective might start with “I have a right to good healthcare,” a traditional Chinese perspective might start with “The government has an 义务 (yìwù) to provide for the people's well-being” and “A doctor has an 义务 (yìwù) to save patients.” This is most evident in family dynamics. In many Western cultures, placing elderly parents in a nursing home is a common and acceptable choice. In China, however, children have a strong, culturally ingrained 义务 (yìwù) to care for their aging parents personally. This is seen not as a burden, but as a fundamental and non-negotiable part of being a son or daughter—a repayment for the care they received as a child. This reflects the collective value system where individual desires are often subordinate to family and social duties.

义务 (yìwù) is a formal and significant word used in specific contexts.

• Legal & Civic Duty: This is one of its most common uses. It describes obligations mandated by law.
  • `义务教育 (yìwù jiàoyù)` - Compulsory education (the nine years of education every citizen must receive).
  • `服兵役的义务 (fú bīngyì de yìwù)` - The obligation to perform military service.
  • `纳税的义务 (nàshuì de yìwù)` - The duty to pay taxes.
• Social & Moral Duty: This refers to unwritten rules of conduct tied to one's role.
  • `为人父母的义务 (wéi rén fùmǔ de yìwù)` - The duties of being a parent.
  • `保护环境是每个公民的义务。(Bǎohù huánjìng shì měi ge gōngmín de yìwù.)` - Protecting the environment is every citizen's duty.
• Volunteering (“Unpaid Work”): Paradoxically, 义务 (yìwù) is used to describe things done for free, out of a sense of public good. In this context, it means “voluntary” in the sense of “unpaid” and “done out of duty.”
  • `义务劳动 (yìwù láodòng)` - Volunteer work / community service.
  • `他义务帮邻居修好了电脑。(Tā yìwù bāng línjū xiūhǎo le diànnǎo.)` - He helped his neighbor fix their computer for free (out of goodwill).

• Example 1:
  • 中国实行九年义务教育。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó shíxíng jiǔ nián yìwù jiàoyù.
  • English: China implements a nine-year compulsory education system.
  • Analysis: This is a fixed, official phrase. 义务 here means “compulsory” or “required by law,” a duty of the state to provide and of the citizen to attend.
• Example 2:
  • 照顾年迈的父母是子女的义务。
  • Pinyin: Zhàogù niánmài de fùmǔ shì zǐnǚ de yìwù.
  • English: Taking care of elderly parents is the duty of their children.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly captures the cultural, moral aspect of 义务. It's not a law, but a deeply ingrained social expectation.
• Example 3:
  • 作为医生，救死扶伤是我的义务。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yīshēng, jiùsǐfúshāng shì wǒ de yìwù.
  • English: As a doctor, it is my duty to save lives and heal the injured.
  • Analysis: This refers to the professional, ethical duty inherent to the role of a doctor. It's a guiding principle of the profession.
• Example 4:
  • 我们周末去参加了义务植树活动。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhōumò qù cānjiā le yìwù zhíshù huódòng.
  • English: We participated in a volunteer tree-planting event over the weekend.
  • Analysis: Here, 义务 means “voluntary” or “unpaid.” The work is done not for a salary, but for the good of the community.
• Example 5:
  • 依法纳税是每个公民应尽的义务。
  • Pinyin: Yīfǎ nàshuì shì měi ge gōngmín yīng jìn de yìwù.
  • English: Paying taxes according to the law is a duty that every citizen should fulfill.
  • Analysis: The phrase `应尽的义务 (yīng jìn de yìwù)` means “a duty one ought to fulfill” and strongly emphasizes the mandatory nature of the obligation.
• Example 6:
  • 我没有义务告诉你我的私人信息。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ méiyǒu yìwù gàosù nǐ wǒ de sīrén xìnxī.
  • English: I have no obligation to tell you my private information.
  • Analysis: This shows how 义务 can be used in the negative to state that one is not bound by any rule or principle to perform an action.
• Example 7:
  • 履行义务比享受权利更重要。
  • Pinyin: Lǚxíng yìwù bǐ xiǎngshòu quánlì gèng zhòngyào.
  • English: Fulfilling duties is more important than enjoying rights.
  • Analysis: This sentence expresses a philosophical or political viewpoint that highlights the cultural value placed on duty over individual rights.
• Example 8:
  • 他觉得帮助穷人是自己的一种义务。
  • Pinyin: Tā juéde bāngzhù qióngrén shì zìjǐ de yī zhǒng yìwù.
  • English: He feels that helping the poor is a kind of duty for him.
  • Analysis: This shows 义务 as a personal, self-imposed moral code, not just one dictated by law or society.
• Example 9:
  • 律师有义务为客户保密。
  • Pinyin: Lǜshī yǒu yìwù wèi kèhù bǎomì.
  • English: Lawyers have an obligation to maintain confidentiality for their clients.
  • Analysis: Similar to the doctor example, this is a professional duty, a core tenet of the legal profession.
• Example 10:
  • 这位老师义务给学生们补课。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi lǎoshī yìwù gěi xuéshēngmen bǔkè.
  • English: This teacher tutors the students for free.
  • Analysis: 义务 here functions almost like an adverb, modifying the verb “tutor” (`补课`). It means the action was done voluntarily and without pay, out of a sense of duty.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 义务 (yìwù) and 责任 (zérèn). Both can be translated as “duty” or “responsibility,” but they are not interchangeable.

• 义务 (yìwù) - Moral/Social Obligation:
  • Nature: Broader, more fundamental, tied to one's role or principles.
  • Reward: Almost always unpaid. It's something you do because it's right, not because you get a salary for it. `义务劳动` (volunteer work) is the classic example.
  • Consequence: Failing an 义务 often leads to social condemnation or a sense of moral failure.
  • Example: A citizen's 义务 to be patriotic.
• 责任 (zérèn) - Task-based Responsibility/Accountability:
  • Nature: More specific, often related to a job, task, or specific situation.
  • Reward: Can be paid or unpaid. It's part of a job description or a specific role.
  • Consequence: Failing a 责任 means you are accountable (`负责 fùzé`) and there might be specific consequences, like getting fired or having to fix the mistake.
  • Example: It is the project manager's 责任 to finish the report by Friday.

A simple test: If you get paid for it, it's almost certainly 责任, not 义务.

• Incorrect: 我的义务是每天写代码。(Wǒ de yìwù shì měitiān xiě dàimǎ.)
• Reason: Writing code is your job, a specific set of tasks you are paid for. It's your responsibility.
• Correct: 我的责任是每天写代码。(Wǒ de zérèn shì měitiān xiě dàimǎ.)
• Correct: 医生有救人的义务 (moral principle) 和写好病历的责任 (specific task).
• Translation: A doctor has the duty to save people (yìwù) and the responsibility to write medical records correctly (zérèn).

• 责任 (zérèn) - Responsibility, accountability. The most important term to contrast with 义务. Refers to a specific, often assigned, responsibility.
• 权利 (quánlì) - Rights, entitlement. Often seen as the opposite or counterpart of 义务. The balance between rights and duties is a key topic in social philosophy.
• 职责 (zhízé) - Duty or responsibility associated with a specific post or job. It's like a more formal version of `责任`.
• 本分 (běnfèn) - One's proper role or duty. It's similar to 义务 but focuses more on “knowing one's place” and acting accordingly, often in a traditional social hierarchy.
• 义务教育 (yìwù jiàoyù) - Compulsory education. The most common and important fixed phrase using 义务.
• 道义 (dàoyì) - Morality and justice; righteousness. This is the philosophical concept that underpins the idea of 义务.
• 使命 (shǐmìng) - Mission. A grander, more profound sense of calling or purpose, often with a historical or personal destiny attached. It's a level above 义务.