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body / form / style

7 strokes · 亻 (person radical) + 本 (root) — the person's root: the body · HSK 2

Where 体 comes from

体 (traditional 體) was radically simplified into one of the loveliest new characters: person 亻 + root 本 — the body as a person's root. The traditional form needed 23 strokes of bones and ritual vessels; the simplified needs 7 and says more.

体 in Chinese culture

体 embodies: 身体 (body), 体育 (physical education — 'body cultivation', every schoolchild's favorite class), 字体 (font — characters have bodies too!), 体验 (to experience — test with the body). 体面 is dignity: 'body-face'. When Chinese asks 体验一下? ('want to experience it?') it invites your whole body, not just your opinion.

Example

体育 tǐyù — sports / P.E.

我喜欢体育课。
Wǒ xǐhuan tǐyù kè.
I like P.E. class.

How to remember it

A person's 亻 root 本 — the BODY.

字体 'character body' = font. In Chinese, even typography is anatomy.

Same sound, different tones

1st tī
to kick
2nd tí
topic
3rd tǐ
body

Words unlocked by 体

身体 shēntǐ
body
体育 tǐyù
sports
体验 tǐyàn
to experience
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