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方式 (fāng shì) — way, manner, mode (of doing something)

Definition

方式 emphasizes the form or pattern of how something is done; 方法 is the more common everyday word for the concrete approach or technique. Often interchangeable with 方法, but 方式 sounds slightly more formal and abstract.

noun
waymannermode (of doing something)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 方式。
    Wǒ men xū yào zhǎo dào gèng hǎo de jiě jué fāng shì.
    We need to find a better way to solve it.
  • 方式。
    Tā de jiào yù fāng shì hěn shòu xué shēng huān yíng.
    His teaching method is very popular with students.
  • 方式？
    Nǐ xí guàn yòng nǎ zhǒng zhī fù fāng shì?
    Which payment method are you used to using?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

方fāngmethod
式shìform

方 gives a way or method and 式 a form or pattern, so together they name a manner of doing something.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 方 →

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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