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轻型 (qīng xíng) — light (in weight or capacity, used for vehicles, machinery, materials, etc.)

Definition

Adjective meaning 'light-duty / light-weight', used as a technical prefix for vehicles, machinery, and materials (轻型汽车, 轻型材料). Pairs naturally with the classifier 辆 for vehicles.

adjective
light (in weight or capacity, used for vehicles, machinery, materials, etc.)

Examples

  • 轻型。
    Zhè liàng qīng xíng qì chē hěn shí yòng.
    This light car is very practical.
  • 轻型。
    Zhè zhǒng qīng xíng cái liào hěn cháng yòng.
    This type of light material is very commonly used.
  • 轻型。
    Tā bēi zhe qīng xíng bēi bāo qù lǚ xíng.
    He carried a light backpack and went traveling.

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.

轻qīnglight
型xíngtype

轻 means light and 型 means type, so the word names a light type.

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 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

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
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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Size & Dimension

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