之类

• Pinyin: zhī lèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 之 = simplified particle derived from 辵 (walk); 类 = simplified from 類 (category)

Meaning

And the like; and so on; this kind of thing.

Used after a noun or list to indicate similar things in the same category. Functions like 'etc.', 'and so forth', or 'things like that'. Often used with 诸如...之类 (such as...and the like).

Examples

1. 他喜欢看科幻电影、悬疑片之类的影片。 He likes watching films like science fiction and suspense thrillers and the like.
2. 诸如环境保护、能源问题之类的议题越来越受关注。 Topics such as environmental protection and energy issues are receiving increasing attention.
3. 我不太喜欢吃辣的东西，火锅、川菜之类的我都不太能接受。 I don't really like spicy food — I can't really handle things like hotpot and Sichuan cuisine.

Usage Guide

Context: writing, speech, enumeration

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 苹果、橘子之类的水果都很有营养。(Fruits like apples, oranges, and the like are all nutritious.)
• 他会一些诸如日语、韩语之类的外语。(He knows some foreign languages like Japanese, Korean, and so on.)

Don't Say

• 我之类喜欢运动。(Incorrect word order — 之类 follows the category being referenced)

Origin & History

Compound of 之 (classical particle meaning 'of') and 类 (category, type). Literally 'of this category'.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal