古典式 (gǔ diǎn shì) — classical style; Greco-Roman wrestling (sports)

Definition

In everyday use 古典式 means 'classical style' — a modifier+noun pattern describing art, music, or design that follows traditional forms. In sports it specifically refers to Greco-Roman wrestling.

noun
classical styleGreco-Roman wrestling (sports)

Examples

  • 古典式。
    Zhè zuò jiàn zhù cǎi yòng gǔ diǎn shì shè jì.
    This building adopts a classical style design.
  • 古典式。
    Tā shì yì míng gǔ diǎn shì shuāi jiāo yùn dòng yuán.
    He is a Greco-Roman wrestling athlete.
  • 古典式。
    Zhè ge yuè duì yǎn zòu gǔ diǎn shì yīn yuè.
    This band performs classical-style music.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

古典classical
古gǔold典diǎncanon
偏正Modifier + head
式shìstyle

古典 means old classics, and 式 adds the sense of a style, so it means classical style.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

One reading of 古 sees a shield-like shape above an open mark, showing strength and firmness. Another sees a person spitting out bad-tasting food.

Open 古 →

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

  • 冊冊cèbooks
  • 丌丌qítable

典 puts 冊 (books) on a 丌 (table), showing official books resting on a table.

Open 典 →

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
工工gōngwork
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì式shì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

式 pairs 工, meaning work, with 弋, which gives the sound.

Open 式 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.