服ふくする

suru verb (special), intransitive verb

serve (a sentence, in the army, etc.)

Used for serving a term or duty, especially in formal or institutional contexts such as prison sentences or military service.

• 彼かれは懲ちょう役えき十じゅう年ねんに服ふくした。

  He served a ten-year prison sentence.

• 若わか者ものは兵へい役えきに服ふくすることを求もとめられた。

  Young men were required to serve in the military.

suru verb (special), intransitive verb

go into mourning; observe mourning

Almost exclusively used in the set phrase 喪に服する (もにふくする). The alternate reading ぶくする is possible but rare.

See also: 喪に服する

• 家か族ぞくは喪もに服ふくしている。

  The family is in mourning.

suru verb (special), transitive verb

take (medicine, poison); drink (tea)

Formal or literary expression for ingesting something, especially medicine or poison. The alternate reading ぶくする is noted but is rare.

• 彼かれは毒どくを服ふくして自じ殺さつした。

  He took poison and killed himself.

• 食しょく後ごに薬くすりを服ふくするように言いわれた。

  I was told to take the medicine after meals.