形かたち

noun

physical form; shape; figure

The basic concrete sense: the outline, configuration, or visible physical form of an object or body.

• 粘ねん土どを丸まるい形かたちに整ととのえた。

  I shaped the clay into a round form.

• この雲くもは魚さかなの形かたちに見みえる。

  This cloud looks like the shape of a fish.

noun

facial features; looks; personal appearance

Used for the visible appearance of a person, especially facial outline or features. The spelling 貌 is noted as occasional but is not a normal everyday spelling.

• 娘むすめは母はは親おやと顔かおの形かたちがよく似にている。

  The daughter's facial shape closely resembles her mother's.

noun

form; style; manner; outward appearance

Abstract use for the way something is presented or done, especially its outward form as opposed to its substance. Common in phrases like 形だけ and という形で.

• 形かたちだけの謝しゃ罪ざいでは、誰だれも納なっ得とくしない。

  No one will be satisfied with a merely formal apology.

• 新あたらしい制せい度どは来らい月げつから試し験けん的てきな形かたちで始はじまる。

  The new system will start next month on a trial basis.

noun

resulting state; situation; condition; form

Often describes the shape a situation ends up taking, especially in patterns such as 形になる, 形で決着する, and という形になった.

• 最さい終しゅう的てきに彼かれが責せき任にんを取とる形かたちになった。

  In the end, it became a situation where he took responsibility.

• 交こう渉しょうは双そう方ほうが少すこしずつ譲ゆずる形かたちで決けっ着ちゃくした。

  The negotiations were settled in a form where both sides made small concessions.

noun

demeanor; attitude; manners; behavior toward others

Limited and old-fashioned as a modern standalone meaning; present-day Japanese normally uses 態度, 振る舞い, or 作法 for this idea.

• 古ふるい文ぶん章しょうでは、人ひとに対たいする振ふる舞まいや態たい度どを「形かたち」ということがある。

  In old writing, 形 can refer to one's behavior or attitude toward others.

noun

shape of a group of stones

Only when written 形

Go-game term for the positional quality or efficiency of a formation of stones; restricted to the spelling 形.

• 囲い碁ごで、この黒くろの形かたちは悪わるい。

  In Go, this black shape is bad.