TongTong
Sign in

形体 (xíng tǐ) — (noun) physique; the human body (shape and form); (noun) form and structure (of Chinese characters or scripts); (noun) physical state or composition (solid, liquid, etc.)

Definition

形体 (xíngtǐ) means 'physique / physical form' — used for the human body and, in technical writing, for the structure of Chinese characters or the physical state of matter (solid, liquid, gas).

noun
physiquethe human body (shape and form)form and structure (of Chinese characters or scripts)physical state or composition (solid, liquid, etc.)

Examples

  • ，形体。
    Tā jiān chí duàn liàn, xíng tǐ bǎo chí dé hěn hǎo.
    She exercises regularly and keeps her physique in good shape.
  • 形体。
    Hàn zì xíng tǐ yóu bǐ huà hé jié gòu zǔ chéng.
    The form of Chinese characters consists of strokes and structure.
  • 形体。
    Shuǐ zài líng dù yǐ xià xíng tǐ biàn chéng gù tài.
    Below zero degrees, water's physical state changes to a solid.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

形xíngform
体tǐbody

形 means form or shape and 体 means body or structure; together they refer to physical form.

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
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
井
井jǐng形xíng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

形 is made from 彡 and 井, with 井 providing the sound.

Open 形 →

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
Body Parts

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