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各式 (gè shì) — various, all kinds of (used before nouns)

Definition

A formal/literary modifier meaning 'all kinds of' or 'various', used directly before a noun (各式 + N). More written than 各种.

pronoun
variousall kinds of (used before nouns)

Examples

  • 各式。
    gè shì Shāng pǐn zài shāng chǎng lǐ dōu yǒu mài.
    All kinds of products are sold in the mall.
  • 各式。
    Zhè jiā diàn tí gōng gè shì měi shí.
    This restaurant offers various kinds of gourmet food.
  • 各式。
    Zhǎn lǎn huì shàng yǒu gè shì huó dòng.
    There are all sorts of activities at the exhibition.

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.

各gèeach
式shìkind

各 (each) and 式 (kind/style) combine to mean all kinds.

Characters in this word

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

各 shows a sole of a foot (夂) coming into an entrance (口), for the sense of coming or entering.

Open 各 →

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
工工gōngwork
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì式shì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

式 pairs 工, meaning work, with 弋, which gives the sound.

Open 式 →
Appears in
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