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人形 (rén xíng) — human form; humanoid (noun, e.g. a humanoid robot)

Definition

Literally 'human shape/figure,' 人形 describes a human-like form or shape — used for sculptures, spirits in human guise, and humanoid robots. As a noun phrase it modifies other things (人形机器人 = humanoid robot), rather than meaning 'a person.'

noun
human formhumanoid (noun, e.g. a humanoid robot)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 人形。
    Zhè ge rén xíng de diāo sù fēi cháng bī zhēn.
    This human-form sculpture is very lifelike.
  • 人形。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán fā yì zhǒng rén xíng jī qì rén.
    Scientists are developing a humanoid robot.
  • 人形。
    Gǔ dài shén huà zhōng cháng yǒu rén xíng de shén líng.
    Ancient myths often have gods in human form.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

人rénhuman
形xíngform

人 gives the human shape, while 形 names the form, making a humanoid figure.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
井
井jǐng形xíng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

形 is made from 彡 and 井, with 井 providing the sound.

Open 形 →
Appears in
People (General)

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