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归类 (guī lèi) — to classify, to categorize; to sort out

Definition

A transitive verb meaning 'to classify / categorize'. Takes a direct object (often with 把) referring to items, and pairs naturally with 数据, 资料, 问题. Compare with 分类 fēnlèi, the related noun 'classification'.

verb
to classifyto categorizeto sort out

Examples

  • 。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè xiē zī liào guī yī xià lèi.
    Please classify these materials.
  • 归类。
    Wǒ men xū yào bǎ zhè xiē wèn tí guī lèi.
    We need to classify these issues.
  • 归类。
    Tā zhèng zài guī lèi zhè xiē shù jù.
    He is classifying these data.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

归guīassign
类lèicategory

归 assign + 类 category means putting something into a category.

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 歸; 归 is its simplified writing.

  • 𠂤𠂤𠂤ancient form of {{zh-l|*師|troops}}
  • 帚帚zhǒubroom; sweep

The traditional form 歸 combines 𠂤 (troops) and 帚 (broom; sweep) to show sweeping away an enemy and returning; the simplified 归 is a later abbreviation.

Open 归 →

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 類; 类 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犬犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
頪
頪lèi類lèi
Same sound today

The traditional form 類 pairs 犬, which relates to the meaning, with 頪, which gives the sound. The simplified 类 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 类 →
Appears in
Order & Arrangement

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