表格

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 表格 (biǎogé) is composed of two characters: 表 (biǎo) and 格 (gé). The character 表 originally meant "to express" or "to represent", and was often used in the context of writing or drawing. Over time, it came to be used more broadly to refer to any kind of representation, such as a table, chart, or form. The character 格 originally meant "a lattice" or "a grid", and was often used in the context of architecture or construction. Over time, it came to be used more broadly to refer to any kind of pattern or structure.When the two characters 表 and 格 are combined, they form the word 表格, which means "table", "chart", or "form". This word is used in a variety of contexts, such as in schools, offices, and hospitals. For example, a student might use a 表格 to record their grades, an office worker might use a 表格 to track their expenses, and a doctor might use a 表格 to record a patient's medical history.The word 表格 is a common word in Chinese, and it is important for HSK learners to be familiar with its meaning and usage.