印刷体 (yìn shuā tǐ) — printed style of script, block letters (as opposed to cursive or handwritten)

Definition

Handwriting style where each stroke is written separately and neatly, like printed text — the opposite of 连笔 (cursive/connected strokes) and 行书 (running script).

noun
printed style of scriptblock letters (as opposed to cursive or handwritten)

Examples

  • ，印刷体。
    Xué xiě zì de shí hou, zuì hǎo xiān liàn yìn shuā tǐ.
    When learning to write, it's best to practice printed script first.
  • 印刷体。
    Zhè ge zì yòng yìn shuā tǐ xiě hěn zhěng qí.
    This character looks very neat when written in printed style.
  • 印刷体。
    Kǎo shì shí yāo qiú yòng yìn shuā tǐ dá tí.
    During the exam, you're required to answer in printed script.

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.

印刷printing
印yìnprint刷shuāprint
联合Side by side
体tǐform

'印刷' covers printing, and '体' gives the form or style of characters.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 爪爪zhuǎhand
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

印 pairs 爪 (hand) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on a kneeling person.

Open 印 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
㕞
㕞㕞刷shuā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刷 uses 刀, a knife, and pairs it with 㕞 as a sound component.

Open 刷 →

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 →

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