Meaning of 样子
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- appearance
- manner
- pattern
- model
How to use 样子
样子 describes how someone or something looks, or the way a person acts. It often appears in patterns like 看样子 (it looks like) and 什么样子 (what kind of look). Example: 他今天很累的样子。(Tā jīntiān hěn lèi de yàngzi.) He looks very tired today.
样 (yàng) means form or kind, and it is the same 样 you see in 一样 (yīyàng), same. Add the noun ending 子 (zi), like in 桌子 and 杯子, and you get the form something takes: its appearance or look.
Common mistake: Learners often read 子 with a full third tone as yàngzǐ, but here it is neutral and light: yàngzi. Also, do not confuse 样子 with 一样 (yīyàng). 一样 means same, while 样子 is a noun meaning appearance.
样子 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.
样 yàng · manner · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
子 zi · noun suffix · 3 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
Related words
Words that share a character with 样子.
| 孩子 | háizi | child |
| 一样 | yīyàng | same; like |
| 儿子 | érzi | son |
| 房子 | fángzi | house; building (single- or two-story) |
| 桌子 | zhuōzi | table; desk |
| 杯子 | bēizi | cup; glass |
| 包子 | bāozi | baozi; bao (steamed stuffed bun) |
| 本子 | běnzi | book; notebook |
| 这样 | zhèyàng | this way; like this; so; (before a noun) this kind of; such |
| 怎么样 | zěnmeyàng | how?; how about? |
| 那样 | nàyàng | that kind; that sort |
| 怎样 | zěnyàng | how; what kind |
Questions about 样子
What does 样子 mean?
样子 (yàngzi) means "appearance; manner" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 样子?
样子 is made of 2 characters: 样 (10 strokes), 子 (3 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 样子 an HSK word?
Yes. 样子 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 样子 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 样子 is written 樣子.
What does 看样子 mean?
看样子 (kàn yàngzi) means it seems or judging by how things look. For example, 看样子要下雨了 (kàn yàngzi yào xià yǔ le) means it looks like it is going to rain.
How is 样子 different from 样 on its own?
样 alone usually works as a measure word for kinds, as in 两样菜 (liǎng yàng cài), two kinds of dishes, or inside words like 这样 (zhèyàng), like this. 样子 is a full noun for appearance, manner, or a model to copy.