sort, kind, variety, class, genus
類 centers on grouping things by shared traits: a sort, kind, variety, or class. The genus sense is a formal application of that same idea of a category.
類 combines 类 (a simplified form related to 米, suggesting sorting grains) with 頁 (head), likely indicating categorizing or grouping by head-like characteristics.
The left side 类 looks like sorting rice grains (米) with extra strokes, and the right side 頁 is a head. Imagine using your head to sort things into kinds and classes.
For ルイ, picture a Louis (ルイ) sorting his vast collection into neat categories: Louis -> ルイ, and he classifies everything by kind.
variety; kind; type; category
kind; sort; type; class; genus; order; family
mankind; humanity
document; papers
classification; categorization; sorting
resemblance; similarity; likeness; analogy
class; heading; group; category
mammal; mammalian
the same kind; accomplice; partner
reptiles
clothes; clothing; garments
fish; fishes
birds
relative; relation; kin
noodles; vermicelli
alcoholic drinks; liquor
type; pattern; shape; genre; breed
several types; several kinds; several species
fungus; fungi
to be similar (to); to be akin (to); to be like