体型 (tǐ xíng) — body type, build, physique | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

body typebuildphysique

Examples

体型。
Tā de tǐ xíng hěn yún chèn.
His body type is well-proportioned.
体型。
Bù tóng de tǐ xíng xū yào bù tóng de xùn liàn fāng fǎ.
Different body types require different training methods.
体型。
Zhè jiàn yī fu shì hé nǐ de tǐ xíng.
This clothing suits your body type.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

体 body and 型 type combine to mean the shape or build of a body.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

骨豊體

Meaning part形符xíngfú

骨骨gǔbone

Sound part声符shēngfú

豊

豊lǐ體tǐ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

刑土型

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

刑

刑xíng型xíng

Same sound today

型 pairs 土 (earth) with 刑, which supplies the sound; the shape shows an earthen mold, hence form or pattern.

Appears in

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