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形 (かたち, katachi) Japanese meaning: physical form | Kotomora
じ 字 Furigana
Meanings Jump to a sense… 1. physical form; shape; figure 2. facial features; looks; personal appearance 3. form; style; manner; outward appearance 4. resulting state; situation; condition; form 5. demeanor; attitude; manners; behavior toward others 6. shape of a group of stones Report an issue with this page
形かたち
に
整ととの
え
た
。
I shaped the clay into a round form.
This cloud looks like the shape of a fish.
Usage patterns 〈 物もの 〉 の 形かたち をしている to be shaped like ~
This stone is shaped like a star.
形かたち が 崩くず れる for the shape to lose its form / collapse
The sofa lost its shape after years of use.
形かたち を 変か える to change shape
Clay can be shaped into any form you like.
〈 事こと 〉 という 形かたち で in the form of ~; by way of ~
We supported the disaster area in the form of a donation.
〈 事こと 〉 という 形かたち になる to end up taking the form of ~; to result in ~
〈 物もの 〉 の 形かたち がいい to have well-shaped/attractive features
She has a nicely shaped nose.
Expressions 形かたち だけ merely for form's sake; just going through the motions 形かたち を 取と る take the form of; assume a shape 形かたち から 入はい る start with the outward form; focus on appearances first; get the trappings right before substance 何なん らかの 形かたち で in some way or other; in some shape or form; somehow 影かげ も 形かたち もない no sign of; nowhere to be seen; leaving no trace Related words· 13 姿 describes the overall visible figure or silhouette of a person or thing, while 形 is broader and can also cover abstract form, style, or resulting situations.
形状 is a more technical, descriptive term for physical or geometric shape, whereas 形 is the everyday word and also covers demeanor and situations.
様子 describes the observable state or condition a situation is in, while 形 in this sense emphasizes the shape or outcome that situation has taken.
態度 is the standard modern word for demeanor or attitude toward others, while 形's demeanor sense is old-fashioned and rarely used in this way today.
Show 9 more 形 refers to the physical shape or form of something, while 型 refers to a pattern, mold, or model that can be reproduced.
形 is the everyday Japanese word for the shape or form of something, while フィギュア is a more literary or design-context loanword for the same idea.
形 is the native Japanese word for physical shape, whereas 状 is the Sino-Japanese element used in shape-describing compounds such as 帯状 or 環状.
形 is the ordinary everyday word for shape or form, while 象(しょう)is a more abstract Sino-Japanese element mainly seen inside compounds like 象形.
Word family form; shape; mold; build up
quality and shape; appearance and nature
appearance; figure; shape; form
over-concentrated shape; inefficient cluster of stones
Written forms 形かたち Usage 89%
Standard, high-frequency kanji spelling for the broad senses of shape, form, appearance, and situation.
かたち Usage 10%
カタチ Usage 1%
容かたち
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form. It is associated with outward form or appearance and is not used for the Go-game technical sense.
Etymology かたち is a native Japanese word conventionally written with 形 for shape or form. The rare spellings 容 and 貌 are associated with appearance, but no historical derivation is specified.
As a result of the discussion, it ended up being decided that he would serve as the representative.
形 is the native Japanese word for shape and is used in everyday, general contexts, while シェイプ is a loanword often tied to fitness, design, or modern styling.
形 is the general word for the shape or form of anything, while 図形 specifically means a drawn or geometric figure such as a circle or triangle.
形 is the native Japanese word for physical shape, whereas フォーム is used more for technique, format, or abstract structure.
形 is the plain, everyday Japanese word for shape or form, while フォルム is a loanword with a more artistic or design-oriented feel.
形 means shape or form in general, whereas 輪郭 specifically refers to the boundary line that defines that shape.
appearance; features; looks
token; for form's sake; perfunctory