kind

JLPT N5 9 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The word (lèi) primarily means "kind," "type," or "category." It is used to classify or group things based on shared characteristics. This can apply to tangible items like books or animals, as well as abstract concepts such as programming classes.

Common Collocations

Usage Notes

is often used in scientific, educational, and technical contexts to denote categories or classes. In everyday conversation, it helps specify types within a broader group. When used in programming, refers specifically to the concept of a "class" in object-oriented programming.

Common Confusion

Don't confuse with (zhǒng), which also means "kind" or "type." often implies a broader category or class, while is more about specific species or varieties. For example, 哺乳 (mammals) is a , while 动物 (a dog is a kind of animal) uses for a more specific type.

Example Sentences

This store has many different kinds of books.

Animals can be divided into many classes, such as mammals and reptiles.

In programming, a class is an important concept in object-oriented