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个体 (gè tǐ) — individual (a single person or entity)

Definition

个体 means 'individual' as a distinct entity (person, organism, unit), often contrasted with 整体 'the whole'. It is more abstract and academic than 个人 ('a person, personal').

noun
individual (a single person or entity)
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 个体。
    Měi gè gè tǐ dōu yǒu zì jǐ de xiǎng fǎ.
    Every individual has their own thoughts.
  • 个体。
    Shè huì de fā zhǎn lí bù kāi měi gè gè tǐ de nǔ lì.
    Society's development relies on the efforts of every individual.
  • 个体。
    gè tǐ De chā yì ràng shì jiè gèng jiā fēng fù duō cǎi.
    The differences among individuals make the world more diverse and colorful.

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.

个gèsingle
体tǐbody

个 and 体 combine to mean a single body or entity.

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 個; 个 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
固
固gù個ge
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 个, the form 個 pairs 亻 (person) with 固 as a sound part.

Open 个 →

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 6HSK 2.0 Level 6People (General)

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