种 zhǒng — kind; type; race; breed; seed; species (taxonomy)
这种水果很甜。Zhè zhǒng shuǐ guǒ hěn tián.This kind of fruit is very sweet.
Common words: 各种 (gè zhǒng)、种子 (zhǒng zi)、多种 (duō zhǒng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "kind"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "kind", including 种 (zhǒng), 类 (lèi), 般 (bān), 慈 (cí). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "kind" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 种 (zhǒng), 类 (lèi), 般 (bān), 慈 (cí) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span zhǒng, lèi, bān, cí — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 种 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 种 zhǒngkind; type; race; breed; seed; species (taxonomy)Useful words: 各种, 种子
- 类 lèikind; type; class; category; similar; likeUseful words: 人类, 类似
- 般 bānsort; kind; class; way; mannerUseful words: 一般, 一般来说
- 慈 cícompassionate; gentle; merciful; kind; humaneUseful words: 仁慈, 慈祥
Common words for these 4 "kind" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 种 (zhǒng) — so "kind" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
各种gè zhǒngevery kind of; all kinds of; various种子zhǒng ziseed多种duō zhǒngmany kinds of; multiple; diverse; multi-人类rén lèihumanity; human race; mankind类似lèi sìsimilar; analogous类型lèi xíngtype; kind; category; (computer programming) type一般yī bānsame; ordinary; so-so; common一般来说yī bān lái shuōgenerally speaking这般zhè bānlike this; this way仁慈rén cíbenevolent; charitable; kind; kindly
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 4 ways to say "kind".
类 lèi — kind; type; class; category; similar; like
商店里有各类水果。Shāng diàn lǐ yǒu gè lèi shuǐ guǒ.There are all kinds of fruit in the store.
Common words: 人类 (rén lèi)、类似 (lèi sì)、类型 (lèi xíng)
般 bān — sort; kind; class; way; manner
时间像流水一般过得飞快。Shí jiān xiàng liú shuǐ yì bān guò de fēi kuài.Time passes as quickly as flowing water.
Common words: 一般 (yī bān)、一般来说 (yī bān lái shuō)、这般 (zhè bān)
慈 cí — compassionate; gentle; merciful; kind; humane
奶奶是一位慈祥的老人。Nǎi nai shì yí wèi cí xiáng de lǎo rén.Grandma is a kind old lady.
Common words: 仁慈 (rén cí)、慈祥 (cí xiáng)、慈善 (cí shàn)
All 4 characters
Open 种、类、般 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.