also: がた
noun, noun, used as a suffix
Broadly refers to the physical shape or abstract form of something. As a suffix (がた), it indicates a pattern, type, or model, such as in 新型 (new model) or 流れ型 (streamlined shape).
この花瓶は変わった形をしている。
This vase has an unusual shape.
新型のスマートフォンが発売された。
A new model of smartphone was released.
noun
Used in financial or legal contexts to refer to something pledged as security for a loan or obligation. Often appears in compounds like 形無し (worthless as collateral).
借金の形に土地を取られた。
They took the land as collateral for the debt.
noun
obverse of an old zeni coin
Historical numismatic term referring to the front side of an old Japanese coin (zeni). Rare outside specialized contexts.
See also: 銭
古銭の形には文字が刻まれている。
The obverse of the old coin is inscribed with characters.
The kanji 形 is a pictograph combining 开 (two hands) and 彡 (hair), originally depicting a pattern or shape. The reading かた is native Japanese, while がた is a voiced variant used in compounds.