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类别 (lèi bié) — category, classification

Definition

类别 is a formal/librarian-style word for 'category/classification' used in organizing things into groups. 类 and 类型 are more common in everyday speech; 类别 sits between 类型 and 范畴 in formality.

noun
categoryclassification
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 类别。
    Zhè ge lèi bié de shū zài tú shū guǎn sān lóu.
    Books in this category are on the third floor of the library.
  • 类别，？
    Shāng pǐn lèi bié yǒu hěn duō zhǒng, nǐ xū yào nǎ yì zhǒng?
    There are many product categories — which one do you need?
  • 类别。
    Wǒ men àn lèi bié zhěng lǐ kè hù zī liào.
    We organize client files by category.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

类lèikind
别biédistinction

类 and 别 both refer to kinds and distinctions, giving a category.

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 類; 类 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犬犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
頪
頪lèi類lèi
Same sound today

The traditional form 類 pairs 犬, which relates to the meaning, with 頪, which gives the sound. The simplified 类 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 类 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 別; 别 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 別 pairs 冎 (bone) with 刀 (knife), showing a knife cutting up bone and flesh. The simplified 别 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 别 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

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