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繁体字 (fán tǐ zì) — traditional Chinese characters (as opposed to simplified characters)

Definition

Traditional Chinese characters — used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Paired with 简体字 (simplified), used in mainland China and Singapore.

noun
traditional Chinese characters (as opposed to simplified characters)

Examples

  • 繁体字。
    Tā zhèng zài xué xí xiě fán tǐ zì.
    He is learning to write traditional Chinese characters.
  • 繁体字。
    Hěn duō xiāng gǎng rén píng shí dōu xiě fán tǐ zì.
    Many Hong Kong people usually write traditional characters.
  • 繁体字？
    Nǐ jué de fán tǐ zì hé jiǎn tǐ zì nǎ ge gèng róng yì xué?
    Which do you think is easier to learn, traditional or simplified characters?

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.

繁体traditional form
繁fáncomplex体tǐform
偏正Modifier + head
字zìcharacter

繁 means complex, 体 means form, and 字 means character; together they name the traditional character form.

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
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
敏
敏mǐn繁fán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

繁 pairs 敏, a sound part, with 糸, meaning silk.

Open 繁 →

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 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
骨骨gǔbone
Sound part声符shēngfú
豊
豊lǐ體tǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.

Open 体 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Language

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