Skip to content
Kotomora

形

shape, form, style

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 500Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケイ
  • ギョウ

Kun'yomi

  • かた
  • -がた
  • かたち
  • なり

Nanori

  • ち

Meaning

形 centers on the visible outline or appearance of something: its shape, form, or style. It can refer to physical contours or the manner in which something is expressed.

Most common words using 形

24 of 866
  • 形かたち
    N4

    (physical) form; shape; figure

  • 形式けいしき
    N2

    form (as opposed to substance)

  • 人形にんぎょう
    N4

    doll; puppet; marionette

  • 形成けいせい
    N1

    formation; molding; making (up); taking form; giving form to

  • 形態けいたい
    N1

    form; shape; figure

  • 山形やまがた

    Yamagata (city, prefecture)

  • 形状けいじょう

    shape; form

  • 変形へんけい
    N1

    transformation; variation; metamorphosis; modification; deformation; variety; deformity; monster

  • 造形ぞうけい

    molding; moulding; shaping; forming; modelling (i.e. plastic arts); modeling

  • 地形ちけい
    N1

    terrain; geographical features; topography

  • 円形えんけい

    round shape; circle; circular form

  • 定形ていけい
    N1

    fixed form; regular shape

  • 三角形さんかくけい
    N3

    triangle

  • 図形ずけい
    N2

    figure; shape; graphic

  • 形跡けいせき

    traces; evidence

  • 正方形せいほうけい
    N2

    square

  • 長方形ちょうほうけい
    N2

    rectangle; oblong

  • 手形てがた
    N1

    draft; draught; promissory note; bill

  • 固形こけい
    N1

    solid (body)

  • 形容けいよう

    description; expression (in words); qualification (e.g. of a noun with an adjective); modification; figurative expression; figure of speech; metaphor

  • 形見かたみ
    N1

    memento (esp. of a deceased person); keepsake; heirloom; remembrance; souvenir

  • 形容詞けいようし
    N2

    adjective; i-adjective (in Japanese)

  • 無形むけい
    N1

    formless; immaterial; intangible; incorporeal; abstract; moral; spiritual

  • 形勢けいせい
    N1

    condition; situation; prospects

Explore all words using 形 →

Study

Etymology

形 combines 开 (a frame or mold) with 彡 (hair or decorative lines), suggesting a shape or form produced by a mold. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination is widely accepted.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 开 looks like a frame or mold, and the right side 彡 resembles decorative lines or hair. Together, they show a mold shaping something into a specific form or style.

Reading mnemonic

For ケイ, imagine a cake mold shaping a cake into a perfect form: cake -> ケイ, and the mold gives it shape.