JLPT N3Spoken and written

型がた・けい-type, -model, -shaped

On the end of a word, 型 is a label for its type, model, size or shape, usually read がた: 新しん型がた (a new model), 大おお型がた (large), 星ほし型がた (star-shaped). In a few words it is けい.

がた

この地ち域いきでは小こ型がたの電でん気き自じ動どう車しゃが増ふえている。

Compact electric vehicles are becoming more common in this area.

けい

博はく物ぶつ館かんに古ふるい帆はん船せんの模も型けいが展てん示じされている。

A model of an old sailing ship is on display at the museum.

How to form it

Word + 型がた

The result is a noun. の joins it to another noun, and common pairs fuse into one word: 小こ型がたの車くるま, 大おお型がた犬けん (a large dog).

Before it: 新しん (new), 大おお (big), a noun, even a letter.
Where you'll meet it: Product names, the news, small talk.

がた: a type, a model, a shape

新しん型がたa new model, a new type

新しん型がた車しゃは一いっ回かいの充じゅう電でんで六ろっ百ぴゃくキロ走はしれる。

The new model can go six hundred kilometers on one charge.

旧きゅう型がた is the old model, 最さい新しん型がた the latest.

大おお型がた・小こ型がたlarge; small, compact

このホテルには大おお型がた犬けん用ようの部屋へやもある。

This hotel also has rooms for large dogs.

血けつ液えき型がたblood type

血けつ液えき型がたは何なに型がたですか。

What's your blood type?

The answer: A型がた, O型がた. People ask it as small talk.

朝あさ型がた・夜よる型がたa morning person; a night owl

姉あねと同おなじで、私わたしも朝あさ型がたです。

Like my older sister, I'm a morning person too.

星ほし型がたstar-shaped

星ほし型がたのクッキーを十じゅう枚まい焼やいた。

I baked ten star-shaped cookies.

Any shape: ハート型がた, 卵たまご型がた (egg-shaped).

けい: a few words to learn whole

The ones you will meet are 模も型けい (a scale model), 典てん型けい, 体たい型けい and 原げん型けい (the original form). Nothing in the spelling sets them apart from the がた words, so each is learned with its reading.

典てん型けいa typical example

これは典てん型けい的てきな日本にほんの朝あさご飯はんです。

This is a typical Japanese breakfast.

Mostly met as 典てん型けい的てき, "typical".

体たい型けいbuild, figure

父ちちは若わかいころから体たい型けいが変かわらない。

My father's build hasn't changed since he was young.

かた: on its own

Standing alone, 型 is かた: a model of a product, a mold, the set moves of karate. 型かた番ばん is a model number.

店てん員いんさんが言いってたけど、この型かたは前まえの型かたより軽かるいんだって。

The clerk said this model is lighter than the previous one.

Close neighbours

化かN3

A change into something. It goes on 型 words too: 小こ型がた化か is getting smaller, 大おお型がた化か getting bigger.

技ぎ術じゅつの進しん歩ぽに伴ともなって、製せい品ひんの小こ型がた化かが進すすんだ。

As technology advanced, products became smaller and smaller.

Check yourself

1How is 最新型 (the latest model) read?

Choose an answer to see why.

2How is 模型 (a scale model) read?

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

For shapes you will also see 形, read the same way: 星ほし形がた, 髪かみ形がた (a hairstyle, also 髪かみ型がた).

More sentences

この機き種しゅは旧きゅう型がたより消しょう費ひ電でん力りょくが少すくない。

This model uses less electricity than the old one.

手しゅ術じゅつ前まえに患かん者じゃの血けつ液えき型がたを確かく認にんした。

The patient's blood type was checked before surgery.

大おお型がた台たい風ふうが九きゅう州しゅうに向むかって北ほく上じょうしている。

A large typhoon is moving north toward Kyushu.

この建たて物ものは戦せん後ごの公こう共きょう建けん築ちくの典てん型けいだ。

This building is a classic example of postwar public architecture.