The Chinese word 种类 (zhǒnglèi), meaning "category" or "type", is a compound noun formed through the common method of combining two semantically related characters. The first character, 种 (zhǒng), originally meaning "seed" or "breed", extends to signify "kind" or "species". The second character, 类 (lèi), means "category", "class", or "type". When paired, they create a single, cohesive concept where both elements reinforce and specify each other, resulting in a term that comprehensively denotes a classification or grouping of things based on shared characteristics. This formation follows the typical Chinese lexical pattern of synonym compounding, where two near-synonyms are joined to form a more precise or abstract meaning.