Meaning
式 (shì) primarily functions as a suffix meaning 'style' or 'type,' commonly attached to other words to indicate a particular manner, form, or system. As a standalone noun, it can refer to a ceremony or formal procedure. It's one of the most productive morphemes in modern Chinese for creating compound words that categorize things by style or method.
Usage
Native speakers most frequently use 式 as a bound morpheme (suffix) rather than alone. It appears in countless compound words like 中式 (Chinese-style), 新式 (new-style), 公式 (formula), and 方式 (method). When used independently, it typically appears in formal contexts referring to ceremonies (婚式 'wedding ceremony') or in mathematical/technical terminology.
Examples
- 01我更喜欢中式早餐。.I prefer Chinese-style breakfast.
- 02这个公式可以解决很多数学问题。.This formula can solve many math problems.
Measure words
- 种一种方式
Common collocations
- 中式Chinese-style
- 西式Western-style
- 新式new-style, modern
- 老式old-style, old-fashioned
Origin
The character 式 originally depicted a type of weapon or tool in oracle bone script, later evolving to mean 'standard' or 'model,' which led to its current meanings of 'style' and 'form.'