字体

• Pinyin: zì tǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 字 = 宀 + 子 (character); 体 = 人 + 本 (form/style/body)

Meaning

Font; typeface; calligraphy style. The specific visual design or style of written or printed characters.

In traditional contexts, 字体 refers to calligraphic scripts such as 楷体, 行书, and 草书. In modern digital contexts, it refers to fonts such as 宋体 and 黑体. Used in design, typography, and publishing.

Examples

1. 设计师精心挑选了一款古朴典雅的字体用于书籍封面。 The designer carefully chose a classic, elegant typeface for the book cover.
2. 该软件内置了超过五百种中英文字体供用户自由选择。 The software comes with over five hundred Chinese and English fonts for users to choose from.
3. 书法课上，老师要求学生先从楷体字体练起，打好基础。 In calligraphy class, the teacher asked students to start with regular script to build a solid foundation.

Usage Guide

Context: design, typography, calligraphy, publishing

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 文件格式规定正文使用宋体字体，标题使用黑体字体。(The document format specifies Song typeface for body text and Hei typeface for headings.)
• 选择合适的字体对于提升设计作品的整体美感至关重要。(Choosing the right font is crucial for enhancing the overall aesthetic of a design work.)

Don't Say

• 字体的声音 — 字体 is entirely visual; use 语气 or 语调 to describe stylistic tone in speech

Origin & History

字 (character/writing) + 体 (form/style/body)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal