立式 (lì shì) — vertical, upright (attributive)

Definition

Used as an attributive before a noun to describe equipment or furniture that stands upright on the floor (e.g. 立式钢琴, 立式空调). Pairs with the classifier 台/架.

adjective
verticalupright (attributive)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 立式。
    Zhè tái lì shì kōng tiáo hěn shěng diàn.
    This floor-standing air conditioner is very energy-efficient.
  • 立式。
    Tā mǎi le yí jià lì shì gāng qín.
    He bought an upright piano.
  • 立式。
    Gōng sī xīn mǎi le yì tái lì shì diàn nǎo.
    The company bought a new tower computer.

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.

立lìupright
式shìstyle

“立” means upright and “式” means style, so it denotes an upright form.

Characters in this word

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

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Open 立 →

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 →

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