Meaning of 式
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- type
- form
- pattern
- style
How to use 式
式 rarely stands alone and usually appears in compounds like 方式 (fāngshì, method), 正式 (zhèngshì, formal) and 公式 (gōngshì, formula). It also works as a suffix meaning "style" or "ceremony": 中式早餐 (zhōngshì zǎocān) Chinese-style breakfast, 开幕式 (kāimùshì) opening ceremony.
式 is built from 工 (gōng, work) tucked inside 弋 (yì). Picture a worker's tool laid out in the standard way, a fixed pattern everyone follows, which gives the meaning form or style.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 式 with 试 (shì, to try), which has the same sound but adds the speech radical 讠. 考试 (kǎoshì) means exam, not 考式. Also remember the dot at the top right of 式; it is easy to leave off.
式 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
式 shì · type · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 式.
| 方式 | fāngshì | way; method; manner; mode; pattern (of behavior etc) |
| 正式 | zhèngshì | formal; official |
| 形式 | xíngshì | outer appearance; form |
| 模式 | móshì | mode; pattern; model |
| 公式 | gōngshì | formula |
| 开幕式 | kāimùshì | opening ceremony |
| 闭幕式 | bìmùshì | closing ceremony |
| 仪式 | yíshì | ceremony |
| 款式 | kuǎnshì | pattern; style |
| 各式各样 | gèshì-gèyàng | (of) all kinds and sorts; various |
| 格式 | géshi | form; specification |
| 新式 | xīnshì | new style; latest type |
Questions about 式
What does 式 mean?
式 (shì) means "type; form" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 式?
式 is made of 1 character: 式 (6 strokes). That is 6 strokes in total.
Is 式 an HSK word?
Yes. 式 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 方式 and 形式?
方式 (fāngshì) is the way or method you do something, as in 学习方式 (way of studying). 形式 (xíngshì) is the outward form or format of something, often contrasted with 内容 (nèiróng, content).
How do I use 式 to say something is in a certain style?
Put a country or type word before 式: 美式咖啡 (měishì kāfēi) Americano, 日式料理 (rìshì liàolǐ) Japanese-style food. This pattern is very common on menus and in shops.