花式 (huā shì) — fancy, decorative, elaborate (used before nouns) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Used as a modifier before nouns for fancy, decorative styles (e.g., 花式蛋糕, 花式滑冰) — emphasizes showy technique or varied design, unlike plain functional items.

adjective

fancydecorativeelaborate (used before nouns)

Examples

。
Zhè jiā kā fēi diàn yǒu hěn duō zhǒng huā shì kā fēi.
This coffee shop has many kinds of fancy coffee.
花式，。
Tā xǐ huan zuò huā shì dàn gāo, shàng miàn yǒu hěn duō shuǐ guǒ.
She likes making fancy cakes with lots of fruit on top.
花式，。
Zhè cì bǐ sài yǒu huā shì huá bīng biǎo yǎn, fēi cháng jīng cǎi.
This competition has a fancy skating performance, very exciting.

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.

“花” suggests ornamental patterns and “式” suggests style, so it means a fancy style.

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.

艹化花

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

化

Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

弋工式

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.

Appears in

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