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Kotomora

貌

form, appearance, countenance

StatusJōyō · secondary schoolStrokes14

Readings

On'yomi

  • ボウ
  • バク

Kun'yomi

  • かたち
  • かたどる

Meaning

貌 centers on the outward visible shape of something: its form, appearance, or the expression on a face (countenance).

Most common words using 貌

  • 変貌へんぼう
    N1

    transfiguration; transformation; change of appearance

  • 美貌びぼう

    beautiful face; good looks; beauty

  • 全貌ぜんぼう

    full view; total picture; whole story; full particulars; all the details

  • 風貌ふうぼう

    (a person's) appearance; looks

  • 容貌ようぼう

    looks; features; (personal) appearance

  • 外貌がいぼう

    outward appearance

  • 相貌そうぼう

    looks; features

  • 体貌たいぼう

    appearance

  • 地貌ちぼう

    geographical features; topography

  • 容貌端正ようぼうたんせい

    having handsome and clean-cut features

  • 容貌魁偉ようぼうかいい

    (a man) having a commanding face and a powerful physique

  • 形貌けいぼう

    looks; features; one's face and figure; appearance

  • 相貌失認そうぼうしつにん

    prosopagnosia; face blindness

  • 相貌的知覚そうぼうてきちかく

    physiognomic perception

  • 象貌しょうぼう

    appearance; figure

  • 醜貌しゅうぼう

    hideous face; ugly face; unattractive face; unsightly face

  • 面貌めんぼう

    looks

Explore all words using 貌 →

Study

Etymology

貌 combines 豸 (a beast-like creature) with 皃 (appearance, face). The original idea may have been the outward look of a beast, extended to form or countenance in general.

Meaning mnemonic

A beast 豸 shows its form through its face 皃. Together, 貌 is the outward appearance or countenance of something.

Reading mnemonic

For ボウ, picture a bow (ボウ) tied around a beast's face to change its appearance: bow -> ボウ, and the beast's form is altered.