各种

• Pinyin: gè zhǒng
• Hanzi breakdown: 各 = 夂 (foot) + 口 (mouth); 种 = 禾 (grain) + 中 (middle, phonetic) — types of grain, hence 'kind'

Meaning

Various kinds; all sorts of; every kind of. Used to describe a wide variety of things.

Functions as a determiner that precedes a noun to indicate diversity or multiplicity. Very common in both spoken and written Chinese. Often interchangeable with 各种各样 (all kinds and varieties) for emphasis. Typically modifies concrete or abstract nouns.

Examples

1. 超市里有各种水果。 The supermarket has all kinds of fruit.
2. 他喜欢尝试各种新的菜。 He likes to try all sorts of new dishes.
3. 网上有各种学习中文的方法。 There are various methods for learning Chinese online.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, descriptive, writing

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这家店卖各种茶叶。(This shop sells all kinds of tea.)
• 他有各种各样的爱好。(He has all sorts of hobbies.)

Don't Say

• 我买了各种三本书。(Don't put a number after 各种 — it already implies variety. Say 我买了各种书 or 我买了三本不同的书.)

Origin & History

Compound of 各 (each/every) and 种 (kind/type). Literally 'each kind,' emphasising the variety across categories.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal