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千姿百态 (qiān zī-bǎi tài) — in a thousand different shapes and forms; displaying a great variety of poses or styles

Definition

A four-character idiom praising variety in shape, pose, or appearance — things 'in a thousand forms'. Unlike 千变万化 (focused on continuous change), 千姿百态 emphasizes diverse, striking appearances at a single moment.

phrase
in a thousand different shapes and formsdisplaying a great variety of poses or styles

Examples

  • 千姿百态，。
    Chūn tiān de huā duǒ qiān zī-bǎi tài, ràng rén kàn bú gòu.
    Spring flowers come in countless shapes and forms — you never get tired of looking at them.
  • 千姿百态，。
    Zhè xiē shí lín qiān zī-bǎi tài, xī yǐn le wú shù yóu kè.
    These stone forests display a great variety of forms, attracting countless tourists.
  • 千姿百态，。
    Wǔ tái shàng yǎn yuán men de dòng zuò qiān zī-bǎi tài, shí fēn jīng cǎi.
    The actors' movements on stage were in a thousand different poses, absolutely brilliant.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

千姿thousand postures
千qiānthousand姿zīposture
偏正Modifier + head
百态hundred forms
百bǎihundred态tàiform
偏正Modifier + head

Thousand postures and hundred forms combine to express great variety.

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
一一yīone, signifying a number
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén千qiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

千 pairs 人, whose sound was similar, with 一, a number stroke; the extra line was explained as extension, and a thousand is a number reached by extending counting.

Open 千 →

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
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
次
次cì姿zī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

姿 pairs 女, meaning woman, with 次, which gives the sound.

Open 姿 →

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
一一yī
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái百bǎi
Same sound today

百 combines 一, which carries the number meaning, with 白, which provides the sound.

Open 百 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
太
太tài态tài
Same sound today

态 is made of 太, which gives the sound, and 心 (heart).

Open 态 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.