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March 24, 2026
体(體)tǐ(ti3)
The character 体 (tǐ) primarily means 'body' and can refer to the physical body, a system, or a form in various contexts. It is often used when discussing physical health, structure, or different styles and forms in art, writing, and linguistics.
Strokes7Radical亻Frequency#2133DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of 体 is central to health discussions, emphasizing the balance and condition of the body as a reflection of overall well-being.
Memory Tip
Imagine a T-shaped figure to represent a body, where the top is the head and the bottom is the body. The 't' in '体' sounds like 'tea,' and you can think of a body enjoying a cup of tea, relaxing and enjoying life.
Meanings of 体
tǐ(ti3)
1body
2form
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 体
体Simplified
體Traditional
7Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2133Frequency Rank
Podcast: 体
Podcast: 体
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AI Study Notes for 体
Quick Contrast
形 (xíng) - use 体 (tǐ) when referring to the physical body or a system, while 形 (xíng) emphasizes shape or form.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 体 with similar characters like 体会 (tǐhuì), which means 'to experience.' It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure that the surrounding context clarifies whether it's about the physical body or a conceptual system.
HSK Study Tips
体 is relevant for HSK Level 3, linking to other words like 身体 (shēntǐ, 'body') and 体系 (tǐxì, 'system'). Focus on practicing its various meanings and how it interacts with other characters in compound words.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 体 by confusing it with related terms. For example, saying '我有体' (Wǒ yǒu tǐ, 'I have a body') is incorrect; the proper phrase would be '我有身体' (Wǒ yǒu shēntǐ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 体
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Simplified form of 體. The foundation (本) of a person (亻) is their body (体).
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Decomposition of 体
IDS Structure⿰亻本
体Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
本ben3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 体?
How to say body in Chinese
“body” in Chinese is体tǐ
The character 体 (tǐ) primarily means 'body' and can refer to the physical body, a system, or a form in various contexts. It is often used when discussing physical health, structure, or different styles and forms in art, writing, and linguistics.
When to use 体
Be careful not to confuse 体 with similar characters like 体会 (tǐhuì), which means 'to experience.' It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure that the surrounding context clarifies whether it's about the physical body or a conceptual system.
体 or something close to it
形 (xíng) - use 体 (tǐ) when referring to the physical body or a system, while 形 (xíng) emphasizes shape or form.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 体 by confusing it with related terms. For example, saying '我有体' (Wǒ yǒu tǐ, 'I have a body') is incorrect; the proper phrase would be '我有身体' (Wǒ yǒu shēntǐ).
Write 体
体
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Practice writing 体 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 体
体 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
