1.
kind; type; sort; category
A group of things sharing common characteristics. Used as a standalone noun or as a suffix attached to other nouns to indicate a category or class.
この類の本が好きだ。
I like this kind of book.
書類を種類ごとに分けてください。
Please sort the documents by type.
穀物類や豆類は栄養が豊富だ。
Grains and legumes are rich in nutrients.
USAGE:
As a suffix, 類 attaches to nouns to create category labels: 魚類 (fish, as a category), 野菜類 (vegetables), 肉類 (meats). This usage is common in menus, nutrition labels, and classification systems.
As a standalone noun, 類 means "kind" or "sort": この類の... (this type of...), 類を見ない (unparalleled).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 穀物類 (grains)
- 魚介類 (seafood)
- 人類 (humanity, humankind)
- 書類 (documents)
- 類を見ない (unprecedented, unparalleled)