géshì: 格式 - Format, Style, Form

• Keywords: geshi Chinese meaning, 格式 meaning, Chinese word for format, document format in Chinese, file format Chinese, geshi pinyin, what does geshi mean, standard format, formal style Chinese
• Summary: Learn the meaning and use of 格式 (géshì), the essential Chinese word for “format,” “style,” or “form.” This guide explains how 格式 (géshì) is used in computing for file formats, in business for document layouts like resumes and reports, and in a broader sense for any standardized pattern. Understand its cultural significance and avoid common mistakes to use it like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): géshì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A standard or required form, format, or style.
• In a Nutshell: 格式 (géshì) is the rulebook for how something should look or be structured. Think of it as the “correct layout.” Whether it's a digital file (like a .JPG or .PDF), a formal letter, a resume, or an academic paper, 格式 (géshì) refers to the expected structure, layout, and presentation that makes it acceptable and understandable.

• 格 (gé): This character originally depicted a lattice or grid. It carries the meaning of a pattern, a standard, a square, or a frame. It provides the sense of structure and rules.
• 式 (shì): This character means “style,” “type,” “form,” or “ceremony.” It's found in words like `方式 (fāngshì)` (way/method) and `公式 (gōngshì)` (formula). It provides the sense of a specific model or way of doing things.
• Together, 格式 (géshì) literally means “a structured style” or “a patterned form,” which perfectly captures its modern meaning of a standardized format.

While 格式 (géshì) is a highly practical and modern term, its importance reflects a subtle cultural value placed on order, standardization, and propriety in Chinese society. In formal settings—be it government, academia, or business—adhering to the correct 格式 (géshì) is not just a technicality; it's a sign of respect, professionalism, and seriousness. Submitting a report with the wrong 格式 (géshì) might be seen as sloppy or even disrespectful. A helpful comparison is with the English word “format.” In Western contexts, “format” can feel like a flexible guideline. In a Chinese context, 格式 (géshì) often carries the weight of a non-negotiable standard or a strict regulation (`规定 guīdìng`). This ties into a broader cultural appreciation for structure and following established procedures to ensure clarity, efficiency, and harmony. For a learner, understanding this means paying close attention to templates (`模板 múbǎn`) and instructions, as the “how” (the format) is often just as important as the “what” (the content).

格式 (géshì) is an incredibly common word, especially in professional and digital contexts.

• Digital and Computing: This is the most frequent usage today. It refers to file formats.
  • 文件格式 (wénjiàn géshì) - File format
  • 图片格式 (túpiàn géshì) - Image format (e.g., JPG, PNG)
  • 视频格式 (shìpín géshì) - Video format (e.g., MP4, AVI)
  • When you format a disk or USB drive, the related verb is `格式化 (géshìhuà)`.
• Documents and Writing: In any situation requiring a standardized layout, 格式 (géshì) is the key term.
  • 简历格式 (jiǎnlì géshì) - Resume/CV format
  • 报告格式 (bàogào géshì) - Report format
  • 论文格式 (lùnwén géshì) - Thesis/Paper format
  • 公文格式 (gōngwén géshì) - Official document format
• Formality: The term is neutral to formal. It's used in everyday conversation when discussing computers or documents, but it is a standard term in professional and academic environments.

• Example 1:
  • 这个文件的格式不对，我的电脑打不开。
  • Pinyin: Zhège wénjiàn de géshì bùduì, wǒ de diànnǎo dǎ bù kāi.
  • English: This file's format is incorrect; my computer can't open it.
  • Analysis: A very common real-world sentence related to technology and file compatibility.
• Example 2:
  • 老师要求我们按照标准的格式写论文。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī yāoqiú wǒmen ànzhào biāozhǔn de géshì xiě lùnwén.
  • English: The teacher requires us to write our thesis according to the standard format.
  • Analysis: This shows how 格式 is used in an academic context to mean a required style guide (e.g., APA, MLA).
• Example 3:
  • 你能把这份报告存成PDF格式吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bǎ zhè fèn bàogào cún chéng PDF géshì ma?
  • English: Can you save this report as a PDF format?
  • Analysis: Demonstrates its direct use in specifying a desired file type.
• Example 4:
  • 他的简历格式很专业，让人印象深刻。
  • Pinyin: Tā de jiǎnlì géshì hěn zhuānyè, ràng rén yìnxiàng shēnkè.
  • English: His resume's format is very professional, leaving a deep impression.
  • Analysis: Highlights how a good 格式 is associated with professionalism.
• Example 5:
  • 请检查一下你邮件的格式再发送。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng jiǎnchá yīxià nǐ yóujiàn de géshì zài fāsòng.
  • English: Please check your email's format before sending.
  • Analysis: A common instruction in a business setting, referring to layout, signature, and salutation.
• Example 6:
  • 这个软件支持多种图片格式。
  • Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn zhīchí duō zhǒng túpiàn géshì.
  • English: This software supports multiple image formats.
  • Analysis: Usage in a technical specification context.
• Example 7:
  • 在中国，官方文件的格式有非常严格的规定。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, guānfāng wénjiàn de géshì yǒu fēicháng yángé de guīdìng.
  • English: In China, the format of official documents has very strict regulations.
  • Analysis: This sentence connects 格式 to rules and regulations (`规定`), touching on the cultural point.
• Example 8:
  • 你需要先格式化这个U盘才能使用。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào xiān géshìhuà zhège U pán cáinéng shǐyòng.
  • English: You need to format this USB drive first before you can use it.
  • Analysis: This shows the verb form `格式化 (géshìhuà)`, which is almost exclusively used for storage devices. Note that the target term here is the verb form.
• Example 9:
  • 我们需要统一所有分公司的报告格式。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào tǒngyī suǒyǒu fēngōngsī de bàogào géshì.
  • English: We need to unify the report format for all branch offices.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the concept of standardization in a corporate environment.
• Example 10:
  • 这首诗的格式很自由，打破了传统。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shǒu shī de géshì hěn zìyóu, dǎpòle chuántǒng.
  • English: This poem's format is very free, breaking with tradition.
  • Analysis: Shows a more abstract, artistic use of 格式 to refer to the structure or form of a poem.

• Mistake 1: Using 格式 as a verb.
  • English speakers often say “I need to format this document.” A common mistake is to translate this directly.
  • Incorrect: 我要格式这个文件。 (Wǒ yào géshì zhège wénjiàn.)
  • Correct: 我要调整一下这个文件的格式。 (Wǒ yào tiáozhěng yīxià zhège wénjiàn de géshì.) - “I need to adjust this file's format.”
  • Rule: 格式 (géshì) is a noun. To talk about changing a format, use verbs like `调整 (tiáozhěng)` (to adjust), `设置 (shèzhì)` (to set), or `改变 (gǎibiàn)` (to change). The only time you see a verb form is `格式化 (géshìhuà)`, which specifically means to format a hard drive or USB stick, erasing its data.
• “False Friend”: 格式 (géshì) vs. 形式 (xíngshì)
  • Both can be translated as “form,” but they are not interchangeable.
  • 格式 (géshì): Refers to the concrete, structural layout and technical specifications. (e.g., Font size, margins, file type).
  • 形式 (xíngshì): Refers to the outward appearance or mode, often in an abstract sense, and is frequently contrasted with substance (`内容 nèiróng`).
  • Example: “The meeting was just a formality.” → 这次会议只是一个形式 (zhècì huìyì zhǐshì yí ge xíngshì). You would never use 格式 here.

• 格式化 (géshìhuà) - The verb “to format,” used almost exclusively for storage media like hard drives and USBs.
• 模板 (múbǎn) - Template. A pre-made document with a set 格式.
• 样式 (yàngshì) - Style, pattern. Overlaps with 格式, but is often more visual and can apply to things like clothing or design.
• 形式 (xíngshì) - Form (as opposed to substance). A more abstract concept than the concrete structure of 格式.
• 结构 (jiégòu) - Structure. A broader term for how something is constructed. A document's 格式 is part of its 结构.
• 排版 (páibǎn) - Typesetting, layout design. The action of arranging text and images, which results in a specific 格式.
• 标准 (biāozhǔn) - Standard. A 格式 is often required to meet a certain 标准.
• 规定 (guīdìng) - Regulation, rule. Often dictates what the official 格式 must be.
• 设置 (shèzhì) - To set, to configure. A common verb used with the noun 格式.
• 文件 (wénjiàn) - Document, file. The thing that most often has a 格式.