变种 (biàn zhǒng) — mutation; variant; variety (a different form of… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A 'variant' or 'mutation' — a form of something (virus, plant, game) that has changed from the original. 比种类 focuses on the changed form itself, not a category.

noun

mutationvariantvariety (a different form of something, especially in biology)

Measure word · 个

Examples

变种。
Zhè zhǒng xīn biàn zhǒng de bìng dú chuán bō dé gèng kuài.
This new variant of the virus spreads faster.
变种。
Kē xué jiā fā xiàn le yì zhǒng zhí wù biàn zhǒng.
Scientists discovered a plant mutation.
变种，。
Zhè kuǎn yóu xì yǒu hěn duō biàn zhǒng, wán fǎ gè bù xiāng tóng.
This game has many variants, each with different gameplay.

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.

变 gives change, 种 gives kind; together they mean a changed kind.

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 變; 变 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攴攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

䜌

䜌䜌變biàn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 變 uses 䜌 as a sound part and 攴 as a meaning part.

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

禾中种

Meaning part形符xíngfú

禾禾hérice

Sound part声符shēngfú

中

中zhōng种zhǒng

Same sound today

种 pairs 禾, which shows rice or grain and fits meanings like plant and seed, with 中, which gives its sound.

Appears in

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