类型 (lèi xíng) — type, kind, category | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

类型 (lèixíng) means 'type, category' and pairs with words like 电脑, 数据 to classify things. 类 is the shorter synonym used as both noun and classifier; 种类 emphasizes variety.

noun

typekindcategory

Examples

类型。
Zhè zhǒng lèi xíng de diàn nǎo hěn shòu huān yíng.
This type of computer is very popular.
类型？
Nǐ néng gào sù wǒ zhè shì shén me lèi xíng ma?
Can you tell me what type this is?
类型。
Wǒ men xū yào fēn xī bù tóng lèi xíng de shù jù.
We need to analyze different types of data.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

类lèikind

型xíngtype

“类” and “型” both mean kind or type, so together they name a category.

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 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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

刑土型

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

刑

刑xíng型xíng

Same sound today

型 pairs 土 (earth) with 刑, which supplies the sound; the shape shows an earthen mold, hence form or pattern.

Open 型 →

Appears in