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原型 (yuán xíng) — prototype; archetype; original model

Definition

原型 is the theoretical 'archetype / prototype' — the original pattern or ideal model a thing is based on. 模型 is a physical or concrete replica, and 典型 a representative example; 原型 is the source they derive from.

noun
prototypearchetypeoriginal model
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 原型。
    Zhè ge yuán xíng yǐ jīng tōng guò le cè shì.
    This prototype has already passed the test.
  • 原型。
    Gǔ xī là shén huà zhōng de yuán xíng yǐng xiǎng le hòu shì hěn duō zuò pǐn.
    The archetypes in ancient Greek mythology influenced many later works.
  • 原型。
    Shè jì shī zhèng zài xiū gǎi yuán xíng de wài xíng.
    The designer is modifying the prototype's appearance.

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.

原yuánoriginal
型xíngmodel

原 (original) and 型 (model) combine to mean the first model something is based on.

Characters in this word

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

原 combines 泉 (spring) and 厂 (cliff), picturing a spring bursting from a cliff-side, which gives the sense of origin or source.

Open 原 →

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 7-9Technology & Engineering

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