‘种类’ (zhǒng lèi) is a compound noun meaning ‘kind’, ‘type’, or ‘category’. It combines two characters: ‘种’ (zhǒng), which means ‘species’ or ‘variety’, and ‘类’ (lèi), meaning ‘class’ or ‘sort’. Together, they emphasize classification — not just any grouping, but a meaningful, often natural or systematic division. The word is neutral in register and widely used in both spoken and written Chinese, especially when discussing taxonomy, product varieties, or general distinctions.

You’ll commonly hear ‘种类’ in contexts like biology (e.g., animal or plant species), food (types of fruit or tea), technology (kinds of smartphones), or everyday comparisons (e.g., different kinds of jobs or hobbies). Unlike the more abstract ‘类型’ (xíng lèi), ‘种类’ often implies observable, inherent differences — especially in nature or tangible domains. It’s rarely used for subjective or emotional categories.