bù: 部 - Department, Part, Section, Measure Word

Keywords: 部, bù, Chinese character bu, Chinese measure word, classifier, department in Chinese, ministry in Chinese, part, section, measure word for movies, classifier for phones, what does bu mean in Chinese.

Summary: A comprehensive guide to the versatile Chinese character 部 (bù). Learn its core meanings as “department,” “part,” and “section,” and master its crucial role as a measure word (classifier) for films, books, phones, and vehicles. This entry provides practical examples, cultural context, and common mistakes to help beginners understand how to use 部 (bù) correctly in modern Mandarin Chinese.

Pinyin (with tone marks): bù

Part of Speech: Noun, Measure Word (Classifier)

HSK Level: HSK 3

Concise Definition: A part, section, department, or a measure word for complex works like films, novels, or machines.

In a Nutshell: Think of 部 (bù) as a word for organized units or sections. It can be a formal “department” within a larger organization like a company or government (e.g., the Marketing Department), a “part” of a whole (e.g., the eastern part of a country), or a single, complete “unit” of a creative or mechanical work, like one movie or one cell phone.

The character 部 (bù) is a phono-semantic compound, meaning one part gives the sound and the other gives the meaning.

咅 (pǒu): This component on the left primarily provides the sound for bù.

阝(yì): This component on the right is a compressed form of 邑 (yì), which means “city” or “settlement.” This part provides the core meaning.

How they combine: A “city” (邑) is divided into different administrative “sections” or “districts.” This creates the fundamental idea of 部 (bù) as a distinct part, division, or department within a larger, organized whole.

部 (bù) is deeply connected to the structure of Chinese bureaucracy and organization, both historically and today. The concept of dividing a government into distinct ministries (部) has been central to Chinese administration for millennia. The famous “Six Ministries” (六部, Liù Bù) of imperial China formed the core of the central government, handling everything from personnel to public works.

This historical weight gives modern terms like 外交部 (Wàijiāobù), the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” a sense of formality and authority.

Comparison to Western Concepts: While a Chinese company's 市场部 (Shìchǎng Bù) is functionally identical to a “Marketing Department” in the U.S., the use of 部 in a governmental context is more rigid and standardized than the sometimes interchangeable “Department,” “Agency,” or “Bureau” in the American system. The term reflects a cultural value for clear, hierarchical, and well-defined organizational structures.

`部 (bù)` vs. `个 (ge)`: Learners often default to the general measure word `个`. While you might be understood if you say “一个电影,” the correct and standard term is 一部电影. Using 部 for films, series, and novels sounds much more natural and educated.

`部 (bù)` vs. `本 (běn)` for Books: This is a key distinction. 本 (běn) is for general bound items like books (`一本书`) or magazines (`一本杂志`). 部 (bù) is reserved for larger, more substantial works, often with a narrative, like a novel (`一部小说`) or a multi-volume epic. You would use 本 for a textbook, but 部 for “War and Peace.”

`部 (bù)` vs. `辆 (liàng)` for Vehicles: 辆 (liàng) is the most common measure word for wheeled vehicles like cars (`一辆车`) and bicycles (`一辆自行车`). 部 (bù) can also be used for cars (`一部车`), but it's less common in daily conversation and tends to emphasize the car as a complex piece of machinery. It's often used in more formal or written contexts. For phones, however, 部 is standard.

部分 (bùfen) - A part, portion, or section. Directly uses the character's core meaning.

全部 (quánbù) - The whole, all, entirety. The conceptual opposite of `部分`.

部门 (bùmén) - Department, branch. A synonym for the “department” meaning of `部`.

本 (běn) - The most common measure word for books, which contrasts with `部`'s use for major literary works.

辆 (liàng) - The most common measure word for vehicles, a key point of comparison with `部`.

篇 (piān) - A measure word for shorter written works like articles or essays.

电影 (diànyǐng) - Movie. A noun that is almost always counted using `部`.

手机 (shǒujī) - Cell phone. The standard measure word for this item is `部`.

政府 (zhèngfǔ) - Government. The larger entity that contains ministries (`部`).

公司 (gōngsī) - Company. An organization that is divided into departments (`部`).