Meanings of 類
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About 類
Podcast: 類
Podcast: 類
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AI Study Notes for 類
类 (lèi) vs 种 (zhǒng): Choose 类 when emphasizing a broader category or classification, while 种 focuses on specific types or varieties within that category.
Be mindful of using 類 in formal contexts where precise classification is required, such as academic writing. Common collocations include 類型 (lèixíng, type) and 類似 (lèisì, similar). A frequent mistake is confusing it with 類似, which specifically means 'similar' rather than 'category'.
While 類 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can help learners connect with related words like 類型 (type) and 類似 (similar). Focus on its application in contexts of classification and comparison.
Learners often confuse 類 with 類似, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '這個問題是類似的' (Zhège wèntí shì lèi de) instead of '這個問題是類似的' (Zhège wèntí shì lèisì de) is incorrect; the first implies a category instead of similarity.
Pronunciation of 類
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Etymology of 類
Simplified form of 類. Depicts three different types of things that have different types, i.e. different types of rice (米), leaves (頁), and dogs (犬). The traditional component 頁 was removed for simplification.
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 類
Simplified form of 類. Depicts three different types of things that have different types, i.e. different types of rice (米), leaves (頁), and dogs (犬). The traditional component 頁 was removed for simplification.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 類? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Decomposition of 類
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 類?
How to say category, class, group, kind; similar to; to resemble in Chinese
“category, class, group, kind; similar to; to resemble” in Chinese is類
The character 類 (lèi) primarily means 'category' or 'class', referring to a group of things that share common characteristics. It can also imply similarity or resemblance between items, often used in contexts where classification is necessary, such as in biology or taxonomy.
When to use 類
Be mindful of using 類 in formal contexts where precise classification is required, such as academic writing. Common collocations include 類型 (lèixíng, type) and 類似 (lèisì, similar). A frequent mistake is confusing it with 類似, which specifically means 'similar' rather than 'category'.
類 or something close to it
类 (lèi) vs 种 (zhǒng): Choose 类 when emphasizing a broader category or classification, while 种 focuses on specific types or varieties within that category.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 類 with 類似, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '這個問題是類似的' (Zhège wèntí shì lèi de) instead of '這個問題是類似的' (Zhège wèntí shì lèisì de) is incorrect; the first implies a category instead of similarity.
Write 類
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Practice writing 類 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 類
Compound Meaning
What does 人类 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 類
You can say '這些水果都屬於同一類' (Zhèxiē shuǐguǒ dōu shǔyú tóng yī lèi), meaning 'These fruits belong to the same category.'
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