<p>式, 型, and 类 all share similar meanings. You can use them to describe a category, type, classification, kind, model, or pattern of something. </p>

<p>The nuisances can be subtle depending on the context or circumstance it's used. While these characters can be interchangeablely, there are exceptions. As an example let's use a common noun like 人.</p>

<p>人式 can roughly translate to "human/people style/form/pattern", referring to a specific way/system to classify a style of some. Most commonly you'll with practical arts, such as martial arts or cooking (e.g., Hong Kong-style cooking). In Japanese, the equivalent would likely be 様式. If I were a robotic lifeforms and was describing a way of doing thing the human way, could use 式. Both nouns and adjectives can be used here.</p>

<p>人型 can roughly translate to "human/people model/shape." 人型机器人 (android) is a common example of using 人型. 型 refers to the shape and structure of something. 新式 and 新型 can be used interchangeably because they both refer to something new. Regardless of whether or not it's a new style or model of something, the implied meaning is that this is a new type of thing. You typically would only use 型 with nouns as it applies the charateristic of the noun, such as a human-shaped or ball-shaped robot. Only nouns are applicable with this character.</p>

<p>类 is similar to the aforementioned characters as it can be used to describe a some kind of thing. 人类 commonly is used to refer to mankind, but it literally means "human-kind/kin." 新类 is usually used to refer to a new type/kind of type of something  (e.g., 虫类). Like a new type/kind of robot (新类型机器人) or new living species (新类生物) of some sort. Both nouns an adjectives can be used with this character.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-17T00:37:19.363Z
2015-11-17T00:37:19.363Z
Krazer
<p>I believe they are almost interchangeable.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>新型建筑 新式建筑 </p>
  
  <p>新型计算机 新式计算机</p>
  
  <p>新型设计 新式设计</p>
  
  <p>新型武器 新式武器</p>
  
  <p>新型手机 新式手机</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<p>A little concern is that 新型 is primarily for things that does have a 型/型号.</p>

<p>For example， most digital devices and most industrial products always have 型/型号. So 新型 and 新式 are both good for them.</p>

<p>On the other side, most art-related products have only aesthetic concerns and have no specific 型/型号. 新式 could be better here.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>新式服装 新型服装？</p>
  
  <p>新式婚礼 新型婚礼？</p>
  
  <p>新式歌曲 新型歌曲？</p>
  
  <p>新式糕点 新型糕点？</p>
  
  <p>新式化妆 新型化妆？</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Still, I re-point out that, to a native speaker like me, they are almost the same and interchangeable.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-17T04:54:01.520Z
Good point on the "art-related products"!
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-17T08:34:47.030Z
I would like say 型 is genre, 式 is version.
Daniel Cheung
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-17T02:11:03.487Z
2015-11-17T02:11:03.487Z
John
<p>I looked up a dictionary and</p>

<p>新式 and 新型 are all translated as "new type".</p>

<p>but when I look up a Chinese-to-Chinese dictionary it said that 新式 is 新的样式 and 新型 is 新的类型. and both seem to be different but I didn't quite get their nuances. </p>

<p>Anyone who can explain the difference well?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-16T11:13:34.820Z
As a native speaker, I feel it's difficult to answer this question (let's circumscribe the question in modern Chinese). In set terminologies, e.g. 实用新型专利, they are not interchangeable. However, for an object **x**, without a clear definition given by specialists of the related field, we cannot really distinguish between "a new-pattern (新式) **x**" and "a new-type (新型) **x**" – that's why I believe in most cases, they are interchangeable.
Stan
<usage><difference>
Difference between 新式 and 新型
# Difference between 新式 and 新型

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-11-16)

I looked up a dictionary and

新式 and 新型 are all translated as "new type".

but when I look up a Chinese-to-Chinese dictionary it said that 新式 is 新的样式 and 新型 is 新的类型. and both seem to be different but I didn't quite get their nuances.

Anyone who can explain the difference well?

**Tags:** usage, difference
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: As a native speaker, I feel it's difficult to answer this question (let's circumscribe the question in modern Chinese). In set terminologies, e.g. 实用新型专利, they are not interchangeable. However, for an object **x**, without a clear definition given by specialists of the related field, we cannot really distinguish between "a new-pattern (新式) **x**" and "a new-type (新型) **x**" – that's why I believe in most cases, they are interchangeable.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-11-17. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

I believe they are almost interchangeable.

> 新型建筑 新式建筑
>
> 新型计算机 新式计算机
>
> 新型设计 新式设计
>
> 新型武器 新式武器
>
> 新型手机 新式手机

---

A little concern is that 新型 is primarily for things that does have a 型/型号.

For example， most digital devices and most industrial products always have 型/型号. So 新型 and 新式 are both good for them.

On the other side, most art-related products have only aesthetic concerns and have no specific 型/型号. 新式 could be better here.

> 新式服装 新型服装？
>
> 新式婚礼 新型婚礼？
>
> 新式歌曲 新型歌曲？
>
> 新式糕点 新型糕点？
>
> 新式化妆 新型化妆？

Still, I re-point out that, to a native speaker like me, they are almost the same and interchangeable.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Good point on the "art-related products"!  
> **username_4**: I would like say 型 is genre, 式 is version.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-11-17. Score: 2

式, 型, and 类 all share similar meanings. You can use them to describe a category, type, classification, kind, model, or pattern of something.

The nuisances can be subtle depending on the context or circumstance it's used. While these characters can be interchangeablely, there are exceptions. As an example let's use a common noun like 人.

人式 can roughly translate to "human/people style/form/pattern", referring to a specific way/system to classify a style of some. Most commonly you'll with practical arts, such as martial arts or cooking (e.g., Hong Kong-style cooking). In Japanese, the equivalent would likely be 様式. If I were a robotic lifeforms and was describing a way of doing thing the human way, could use 式. Both nouns and adjectives can be used here.

人型 can roughly translate to "human/people model/shape." 人型机器人 (android) is a common example of using 人型. 型 refers to the shape and structure of something. 新式 and 新型 can be used interchangeably because they both refer to something new. Regardless of whether or not it's a new style or model of something, the implied meaning is that this is a new type of thing. You typically would only use 型 with nouns as it applies the charateristic of the noun, such as a human-shaped or ball-shaped robot. Only nouns are applicable with this character.

类 is similar to the aforementioned characters as it can be used to describe a some kind of thing. 人类 commonly is used to refer to mankind, but it literally means "human-kind/kin." 新类 is usually used to refer to a new type/kind of type of something (e.g., 虫类). Like a new type/kind of robot (新类型机器人) or new living species (新类生物) of some sort. Both nouns an adjectives can be used with this character.


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