About
The character "样", the simplified form of the traditional "樣", originates from the semantic-phonetic compound structure common in Chinese script, combining the wood radical (木) on the left with a component indicating sound. In its traditional form, the phonetic element was "羕" (yàng), which itself implies a sense of flowing water and was chosen primarily for its phonetic value. The character's original and core meaning was tied to a wooden model, pattern, or mold used in craftsmanship, such as a template for shaping objects, directly relating to the material implied by its "wood" radical. Over centuries, its application broadened semantically from this concrete idea of a physical pattern to encompass more abstract concepts of appearance, manner, and type, allowing it to describe how something looks or what kind of category it belongs to. The simplification process altered the character by replacing the complex phonetic "羕" with the simpler and more common "羊" (yáng), which, while changing the graphical form, retained a similar pronunciation and left the meaningful wood radical intact, thus preserving the essential link to its etymological foundation while streamlining its written form.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这样很好。
你这是什么样？
他的样子很认真。
请给我看一下样品。
这两件衣服样式不同。
同样的错误别再犯了。
他照猫画虎地模仿别人的样。
无论遇到什么样困难，都要保持积极心态。