Definitions

lèi (noun) kind; type; category
lèi (adjective,verb) similar; to resemble

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

The character "类" in its current simplified form derives from the traditional character "類", which is composed of the phonetic component "頪" and the semantic component "犬", meaning dog. In its traditional structure, "頪" itself combines "米" (rice) and "頁" (head), though the exact original relationship between these elements is debated. The core meaning of "類" was "similar kind" or "category", with the "dog" component possibly relating to the grouping of animals by species. Over time, the meaning expanded to denote "type", "class", or "genus", and it developed a verbal sense meaning "to resemble". The simplified form "类" retains the "米" component from the top of the traditional character but replaces the lower complex portion with "大", creating a structurally distinct character that continues to carry the same fundamental meanings of classification and resemblance.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

水果有很多种

Shuǐguǒ yǒu hěn duō zhǒnglèi.

Fruits have many kinds.

需要保护环境。

Rénlèi xūyào bǎohù huánjìng.

Humanity needs to protect the environment.

这两本书很似。

Zhè liǎng běn shū hěn lèisì.

These two books are very similar.

请把垃圾进行分

Qǐng bǎ lājī jìnxíng fēnlèi.

Please classify the garbage.

这种型的电影很受欢迎。

Zhè zhǒng lèixíng de diànyǐng hěn shòu huānyíng.

This type of movie is very popular.

是动物的一种别。

Niǎolèi shì dòngwù de yī zhǒng lèibié.

Birds are a category of animals.

在生物学中,分学非常重要。

Zài shēngwùxué zhōng, fēnlèi xué fēicháng zhòngyào.

In biology, taxonomy is very important.

根据产品的特性,我们可以将其分为三大

Gēnjù chǎnpǐn de tèxìng, wǒmen kěyǐ jiāng qí fēn wéi sān dà lèi.

According to the characteristics of the products, we can classify them into three major categories.