正式
HSK 4 (exam 2025)HSK 3 (2021)Old HSK 4
正式 (zhèngshì) · formal
正式 (zhèngshì) means “formal; official”. It is written with 2 characters: 正 (straight) + 式 (formula). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 正式 is built
The characters
正 zhèng · straight
What 正 is made of
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 止zhǐ — to stop
- 上shàng — up
- ⺊ — structural part
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 上shàng — up
Origin hint: A foot 止 stopping in the right place 一 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
式 shì · formula
What 式 is made of
- 弋yì — to catch
- 工gōng — labor
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丄shàng — above
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
Origin hint: A craftsman using an awl 弋 and a measuring square 工 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
明天我正式开始工作。Míngtiān wǒ zhèngshì kāishǐ gōngzuò.I officially start work tomorrow.
这是正式的会议吗？Zhè shì zhèngshì de huìyì ma?Is this a formal meeting?
Questions about 正式
What does 正式 mean?
正式 (zhèngshì) means “formal; official”.
How do you pronounce 正式?
正式 is pronounced zhèngshì.
Which HSK level is 正式?
正式 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 3 (2021) and Old HSK 4.
Related words
- 正在zhèngzàiin the process of
- 真正zhēnzhèngreal
- 正常zhèngchángnormal
- 正好zhènghǎojust right
- 正确zhèngquècorrect
- 正是zhèngshìto be exactly
- 反正fǎnzhènganyway
- 改正gǎizhèngto correct
- 端正duānzhèngupright
- 更正gēngzhèngto correct
Learn 正式 with its group
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 15: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.