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立体 (lì tǐ) — (noun) a solid (three-dimensional geometric figure); three-dimensional object; (adjective) three-dimensional, stereoscopic, solid

Definition

立体 means 'three-dimensional / 3D' — referring to objects with depth, as opposed to flat (平面). Pairs with 三维 ('3D'), which is the more technical/mathematical term. As a noun, it can mean a solid geometric figure.

noun
a solid (three-dimensional geometric figure)three-dimensional object
adjective
three-dimensionalstereoscopicsolid
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 立体。
    Zhè zhǒng lì tǐ tú xiàng fēi cháng bī zhēn.
    This kind of three-dimensional image is very lifelike.
  • 立体。
    Tā zài gōng yuán páng kàn dào le yí gè lì tǐ tíng chē chǎng.
    He saw a multi-story car park next to the park.
  • 立体。
    Xīn mǎi de lì tǐ yīn xiǎng xiào guǒ hěn hǎo.
    The newly bought stereo system sounds great.

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.

立lìstanding
体tǐbody

立 means 'standing' and 体 means 'body', together suggesting a solid form.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Open 立 →

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 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Shapes

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