繁体 (fán tǐ) — Traditional Chinese characters (as opposed to simplified)

Definition

Refers to Traditional Chinese characters, the non-simplified script still used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Pairs with 简体 (jiǎntǐ), the simplified script used in mainland China.

noun
Traditional Chinese characters (as opposed to simplified)

Examples

  • 繁体。
    Zhè běn shū shì yòng fán tǐ xiě de.
    This book is written in traditional characters.
  • ，繁体。
    Zài tái wān, rén men shǐ yòng fán tǐ.
    In Taiwan, people use traditional characters.
  • 繁体？
    Nǐ néng bǎ jiǎn tǐ zì zhuǎn chéng fán tǐ ma?
    Can you convert simplified characters to traditional ones?

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.

繁fáncomplex/traditional
体tǐform

繁 means complex or traditional, and 体 means form, combining into the traditional character 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
敏
敏mǐn繁fán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

繁 pairs 敏, a sound part, with 糸, meaning silk.

Open 繁 →

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 →

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