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Kotomora

型

mould, type, model

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 500Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケイ

Kun'yomi

  • かた
  • -がた

Meaning

型 centers on a fixed shape that gives form to something else: a mould that shapes material, a model that defines a pattern, or a type that classifies things by their form.

Most common words using 型

20 of 584
  • 型かた
    N3

    type; style; model; pattern

  • 大型おおがた
    N3

    large; large-sized; large-scale; big

  • 小型こがた
    N3

    small-sized; small-scale; miniature

  • 新型しんがた

    new type; new style; new model; new strain (e.g. infectious disease)

  • 髪型かみがた
    N4

    hair style; coiffure; hairdo

  • 体型たいけい
    N1

    figure; body shape; build; physique; form

  • 典型てんけい
    N3

    type; pattern; model; epitome; exemplar; archetype; perfect example

  • 模型もけい
    N1

    model; dummy; maquette

  • 原型げんけい

    model; prototype; archetype

  • 型式かたしき

    model (e.g. of a vehicle); type

  • 中型ちゅうがた

    medium size

  • 型番かたばん

    model number

  • 薄型うすがた

    thin (type); slim; flat

  • 類型るいけい
    N1

    type; pattern; shape; genre; breed

  • 旧型きゅうがた

    old model; old type; old style

  • 型破りかたやぶり

    unusual; unconventional; mold-breaking; outside the box

  • 型紙かたがみ

    pattern paper (for dressmaking)

  • 小型車こがたしゃ

    small car; compact car

  • 文型ぶんけい

    sentence pattern

  • 変型へんけい

    variety; variation

Explore all words using 型 →

Study

Etymology

型 combines 刑 (which here likely contributes sound) with 土 (earth), suggesting a mould made of earth or clay used to shape objects.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 刑 looks like a cutting tool, and the bottom 土 is earth. Imagine pressing a knife-like pattern into clay to create a mould that defines a shape or type.

Reading mnemonic

For ケイ, picture a cake mould: cake -> ケイ, and the mould shapes the cake into a perfect type.