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体统 (tǐ tǒng) — decorum, propriety, proper social order; system, organized whole

Definition

Literary/formal word with two main senses: 'decorum, propriety' (how one should behave) and 'organized system'. The decorum sense is abstract social order, not personal appearance.

noun
decorumproprietyproper social ordersystemorganized whole

Examples

  • 体统。
    Nǐ zhè yàng shuō huà tài bù tǐ tǒng le.
    It's very improper for you to talk like that.
  • 体统。
    Zài zhèng shì chǎng hé yào jiǎng tǐ tǒng.
    You must observe decorum in formal settings.
  • 体统。
    Zhè ge gōng sī de guǎn lǐ tǐ tǒng hěn wán shàn.
    This company's management system is very well-established.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

体tǐform
统tǒngsystem

体 and 统 together refer to form and order, giving the sense of proper system or decorum.

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.

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.

Open 体 →

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 統; 统 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
充
充chōng統tǒng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 統 uses 糸 as a meaning part and 充 as a sound part; the simplified 统 is a later shorthand, so this story is about 統, not about 统's parts.

Open 统 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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