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之类 (zhī lèi) — (suffix) and the like, such as, and so on

Definition

之类 attaches to a noun to mean 'and the like / such as', more written than 这类, used after listing one or two examples before generalizing.

suffix
and the likesuch asand so on

Examples

  • 、之类。
    Tā xǐ huan chī píng guǒ, xiāng jiāo zhī lèi de shuǐ guǒ.
    He likes to eat fruits like apples, bananas, and the like.
  • ，、之类，。
    Zhè lèi wèn tí, bǐ rú jì shù, guǎn lǐ zhī lèi, dōu xū yào jīng yàn.
    This type of problem, such as technology, management, and so on, all require experience.
  • 之类，。
    Bú yào zǒng shì mǎi nà xiē líng shí zhī lèi de dōng xī, duì shēn tǐ bù hǎo.
    Don't always buy things like snacks and such; it's bad for your health.

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.

之zhīthis
类lèikind

The idea of 之 as this joins with 类 as kind to mean and the like.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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 →

Grammar

Appears in
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