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实体 (shí tǐ) — entity (e.g., legal entity, business entity); substance; material thing (as opposed to virtual or conceptual)

Definition

实体 is a formal noun for a real, tangible unit (especially a legal or business entity) or a physical thing — opposite of virtual/conceptual. Compare 实质 (abstract essence) and 实物 (a physical object/item, often in kind vs. cash).

noun
entity (e.g., legal entity, business entity)substancematerial thing (as opposed to virtual or conceptual)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 实体，。
    Wǒ men gōng sī shì yí gè fǎ lǜ shí tǐ, kě yǐ qiān hé tong.
    Our company is a legal entity that can sign contracts.
  • 实体，。
    shí tǐ Diàn de dōng xī kě yǐ shì chuān, wǎng shàng mǎi bù xíng.
    In physical stores you can try things on; buying online doesn't allow that.
  • 实体。
    Zhè ge jì huà de shí tǐ hái zhǐ shì yí gè gài niàn.
    The substance of this plan is still just a concept.

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.

实shíactual
体tǐbody

Actual body gives a concrete entity or substance.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

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