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同类 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
同类tónglèisimilarHSK 6, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #9240, Hard
同类tónglèisame typeHSK 6, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #9240, Hard
同类tónglèialikeHSK 6, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #9240, Hard
tónglèi(tong2lei4)tong lei T2
  1. 1similar
  2. 2same type
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March 24, 2026

同类(同類)tónglèi(tong2lei4)

同类 (tóng lèi) refers to things that are of the same type or category, indicating similarity among items or individuals. This term is often used in comparisons, classifications, and discussions about groups that share common characteristics.

Strokes15Frequency#9240DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, categorization and classification are important, particularly in fields like herbal medicine and philosophy, where understanding different types of plants or concepts can be crucial for practice.

Memory tip

Imagine a group of identical twins holding hands, all smiling in the same way. The character 同 (tóng) looks like two people together, which represents 'same,' while 类 (lèi) resembles a collection of similar items, emphasizing their shared type.

Meanings of 同类

tónglèi(tong2lei4)
1similar
2same type
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About 同类

同类Simplified
同類Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 同类

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AI study notes for 同类

Quick Contrast

同种 (tóng zhǒng) — use 同类 for broader categories, while 同种 is more specific to biological or species-related classifications.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the context in which you use 同类; it's more common in formal writing or discussions. A frequent mistake is to use it to describe people in casual conversation, which can sound overly formal. Common collocations include '同类产品' (similar products) and '同类动物' (similar animals).

HSK Study Tips

同类 is not part of the HSK word list, but it relates well to HSK 4 vocabulary concerning categories and comparisons. Focus on understanding the radicals and components of the characters to enhance retention.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 同类 with 相似 (xiāngsì, similar), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '他们是同类' (They are the same type) instead of '他们很相似' (They are very similar) can sound awkward in conversational Chinese.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 同类

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Component characters

同tóng(used in given names)
HSK 56 strokes口
View full entry
类lèikind
HSK 59 strokes大
View full entry

How to say similar in Chinese

“similar” in Chinese is同类tónglèi

同类 (tóng lèi) refers to things that are of the same type or category, indicating similarity among items or individuals. This term is often used in comparisons, classifications, and discussions about groups that share common characteristics.

When to use 同类

Be cautious with the context in which you use 同类; it's more common in formal writing or discussions. A frequent mistake is to use it to describe people in casual conversation, which can sound overly formal. Common collocations include '同类产品' (similar products) and '同类动物' (similar animals).

同类 or something close to it

同种 (tóng zhǒng) — use 同类 for broader categories, while 同种 is more specific to biological or species-related classifications.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 同类 with 相似 (xiāngsì, similar), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '他们是同类' (They are the same type) instead of '他们很相似' (They are very similar) can sound awkward in conversational Chinese.

Write 同类

同
类

Practice writing 同类 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently asked questions about 同类

Yes, but it is typically used in formal contexts to describe groups of people with similar characteristics.

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