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简体字 (jiǎn tǐ zì) — simplified Chinese character (as opposed to traditional Chinese character)

Definition

简体字 is the simplified form of Chinese characters — fewer strokes, used in mainland China. Its counterpart 繁体字 is the traditional form used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

noun
simplified Chinese character (as opposed to traditional Chinese character)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 简体字，。
    Tā zài xué xiě jiǎn tǐ zì, yīn wèi yào qù zhōng guó liú xué.
    He is learning to write simplified characters because he's going to study in China.
  • ，简体字。
    Suī rán wǒ xí guàn kàn fán tǐ zì, dàn jiǎn tǐ zì gèng róng yì xué.
    Although I'm used to reading traditional characters, simplified characters are easier to learn.
  • 简体字。
    Zhè běn cí diǎn tóng shí shōu lù le fán tǐ zì hé jiǎn tǐ zì.
    This dictionary includes both traditional characters and simplified characters.

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.

简体simple form
简jiǎnsimple体tǐform
偏正Modifier + head
字zìcharacter

简体 (simple form) and 字 (character) combine to mean a character written in a simplified form.

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 簡; 简 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhú
Sound part声符shēngfú
間
閒xián簡jiǎn
Same sound today

In the traditional form 簡, 竹 (bamboo) is paired with 間 (also written 閒) as a sound part; the simplified 简 is a later shorthand.

Open 简 →

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 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Language

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