Heiti

Heiti, or HeiTi (黑体; literally "black type"), is a family of Chinese sans-serif typefaces used in Chinese typography. It contrasts with Songti (宋体), a serif style. Heiti is characterized by simple, uniform strokes with little or no contrast between thick and thin strokes, yielding clean, compact characters with square shapes. This makes Heiti particularly legible on screens and at small sizes, and it is commonly employed for headings, user interfaces, signage, and digital text.

The term is generic and covers a range of fonts produced by many foundries and software vendors. In everyday use, Heiti fonts are bundled with operating systems and applications. Notable examples include SimHei and Microsoft YaHei, which illustrate the sans-serif, high-contrast, black-on-white appearance typical of the family.

Usage and distribution: In Mainland China and other Chinese-language regions, Heiti fonts are widely used for UI elements, web content, and branding where a neutral, modern look is desired. They are often paired with Songti or Ming for body text in print to create contrast between headings and body copy.

History: The Heiti family emerged as part of the 20th-century modernization of Chinese typography, with digital forms becoming standard in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The category encompasses many fonts from different vendors, unified by their sans-serif design and emphasis on legibility.

See also: Songti, Ming, Sans-serif typography.