样子 (yàng zi) — appearance; look; manner; way; style; pattern

Definition

Everyday word for how someone or something looks — appearance, style, or manner. Compare 方式 (way/method of doing) and 形式 (outer form, often empty).

noun

appearancelookmannerwaystylepattern

样子。
Tā de yàng zi hěn hǎo kàn.
Her appearance is very nice.
样子，。
Kàn tā de yàng zi, tā hǎo xiàng hěn kāi xīn.
Judging by his look, he seems very happy.
样子。
Zhè jiàn yī fu de yàng zi hěn tè bié.
The style of this piece of clothing is very special.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

样yàngshape/look

样 gives the idea of shape or look, and 子 finishes the everyday word for appearance.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樣; 样 is its simplified writing.

木羕樣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

羕

羕yàng樣yàng

Same sound today

For 样, the traditional form 樣 pairs 木 (wood) with 羕 as a sound part.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Appears in