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 "type"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "type", including 种 (zhǒng), 式 (shì), 类 (lèi). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "type" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 种 (zhǒng), 式 (shì), 类 (lèi) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span zhǒng, shì, lèi — 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
- 式 shìtype; form; pattern; styleUseful words: 方式, 正式
- 类 lèikind; type; class; category; similar; likeUseful words: 人类, 类似
Common words for these 3 "type" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 种 (zhǒng) — so "type" 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-方式fāng shìway; method; manner; mode正式zhèng shìformal; official形式xíng shìouter appearance; form; shape; formality人类rén lèihumanity; human race; mankind类似lèi sìsimilar; analogous类型lèi xíngtype; kind; category; (computer programming) type
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 3 ways to say "type".
式 shì — type; form; pattern; style
这是一道中式菜。Zhè shì yí dào zhōng shì cài.This is a Chinese-style dish.
Common words: 方式 (fāng shì)、正式 (zhèng shì)、形式 (xíng shì)
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)
All 3 characters
Open 种、式、类 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.