部队
bùduì · HSK 6
army
🪖 部 = section/unit + 队 = team; together: army unit
部 means section or division (as in 部门 department); 队 means team or squad (as in 团队 team). A 部队 is literally a sectioned team — a military unit. Sounds roughly like boo-dway.
部 — 阝(邑) right + 咅 phonetic
The right-side 阝 derives from 邑 (city/settlement), giving the meaning of a region, district, or administrative division. The left side 咅 supplies the sound. Originally referring to a settlement, the meaning broadened to 'part,' 'section,' or 'ministry.'
队 — 阝(mound) + 㒸 (phonetic, suì)
Originally written 隊, depicting people falling from a mound (阝). The early sense was 'to fall down,' later borrowed for 'a group' or 'team' descending or marching together. The simplified form 队 keeps the mound radical 阝 but replaces the right side with 人 (person), suggesting people gathered in a line.