种
kind; sort; type (measure word)
zhǒng
What does 种 mean?
种 (zhǒng) is one of the most common measure words in Chinese. It classifies kinds, types, or sorts of things, much like English 'kind of' or 'type of': 一种水果 ('a kind of fruit'), 这种人 ('this kind of person'), 三种语言 ('three languages / three kinds of languages'). Two things to know. First, 种 is abstract — it counts categories, not individual items.
一种花 means 'one kind of flower,' not 'one flower' (which would be 一朵花). Second, the same character read in the fourth tone, 种 (zhòng), is the verb 'to plant/grow' (种树 'plant trees,' 种菜 'grow vegetables'). HSK lists both readings together. As a noun, 种 (zhǒng) can also mean 'species,' 'seed,' or 'breed' — 人种 ('human race'), 种子 ('seed').
Note: Read 种 with the third tone (zhǒng) for the measure word meaning 'kind/type.' The same character read
Character breakdown
kind; type; species (3rd tone); also 'to plant' read zhòng (4th tone)
Memory hook: Think of 种 as 'category seeds' — different seeds, different kinds.
Example sentences
这种苹果很甜。
Zhè zhǒng píngguǒ hěn tián.
This kind of apple is very sweet.
spoken
我喜欢这种音乐。
Wǒ xǐhuan zhè zhǒng yīnyuè.
I like this kind of music.
neutral
他会说三种语言。
Tā huì shuō sān zhǒng yǔyán.
He can speak three languages.
neutral
商店里有各种水果。
Shāngdiàn lǐ yǒu gè zhǒng shuǐguǒ.
The store has all kinds of fruit.
neutral
这是一种新的方法。
Zhè shì yì zhǒng xīn de fāngfǎ.
This is a new kind of method.
written
Common phrases with 种
Synonyms
类 also means 'kind/category' but is more formal and often appears in compounds (人类 'humankind,' 分类 'classify'). 种 is the everyday measure word; 类 is the category noun.
Don't confuse 种 with
Same character, fourth tone — the verb 'to plant/grow.' 种树 (zhòng shù) 'plant a tree,' 种花 (zhòng huā) 'grow flowers.' 种 (zhǒng, 3rd tone) is the measure word for kinds.
重 means 'heavy' (zhòng) or 'again' (chóng). Visually similar to 种 but a different character. Don't mix them in writing.
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