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形形色色 (xíng xíng sè sè) — all kinds of; all sorts of; every kind of

Definition

A formal written-word meaning 'all kinds of, of every variety' — more literary than 各种, which is the everyday equivalent. Stronger in tone than the set phrase 五花八门, which leans toward 'wildly varied' (often with a hint of chaos).

adjective
all kinds ofall sorts ofevery kind of

Examples

  • 。
    Tú shū guǎn lǐ yǒu xíng xíng sè sè de shū jí.
    There are all kinds of books in the library.
  • 形形色色。
    Cān jiā zhè cì huó dòng de rén lái zì xíng xíng sè sè de háng yè.
    People from all sorts of industries participated in this event.
  • 形形色色。
    Zhè ge shì chǎng mài xíng xíng sè sè de shāng pǐn.
    This market sells every kind of product.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

形形shapes
形xíngshape形xíngshape
重叠Reduplication
色色colors
色sècolor色sècolor
重叠Reduplication

形形 and 色色 list shapes and colors, so the phrase means every kind or all sorts.

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.

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 →

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

  • 爪爪zhuǎclaw; hand
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

色 pairs 爪 (a hand) with 卩 (a kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on the kneeling person.

Open 色 →

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

  • 爪爪zhuǎclaw; hand
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

色 pairs 爪 (a hand) with 卩 (a kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on the kneeling person.

Open 色 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Idioms & Set Phrases

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