新型

• Pinyin: xīn xíng
• Hanzi breakdown: 新 = 亲 (kin) + 斤 (axe, phonetic); 型 = 刑 (form) + 土 (earth) — shape cast in a mold

Meaning

New type; new model; of a new design or kind.

Used as an attributive adjective before nouns to indicate something is a new variety, design, or generation of its kind. Common in news, technology, and business contexts. Often contrasted with 传统 (traditional) or 旧式 (old style).

Examples

1. 这款新型手机刚上市，屏幕更大，电池续航时间更长。 This new-model phone just went on sale — the screen is bigger and the battery lasts longer.
2. 研究人员开发出一种新型材料，可以大幅提高太阳能电池的效率。 Researchers have developed a new type of material that can greatly improve the efficiency of solar cells.
3. 政府积极推广新型能源汽车，鼓励市民减少使用汽油车。 The government is actively promoting new-model electric vehicles and encouraging citizens to reduce their use of petrol cars.

Usage Guide

Context: technology, business, news

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 工厂引进了一批新型设备，生产效率提高了很多。(The factory introduced a batch of new-model equipment and production efficiency improved greatly.)
• 这是一款新型病毒，科学家们正在研究它的传播方式。(This is a new type of virus and scientists are studying how it spreads.)

Don't Say

• 用新型形容人，如他是一个新型的员工。(Don't use 新型 to describe a person — use 优秀的员工 or 有能力的员工 instead.)

Origin & History

Compound of 新 (new) and 型 (type/model), literally 'new model.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal