字形 (zì xíng) — form of a Chinese character | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

The visual shape and structure of a Chinese character — strokes, radicals, and layout. Used in contexts like calligraphy, typography, and character analysis (compare 字音 'pronunciation' and 字义 'meaning').

noun

form of a Chinese character

Examples

字形。
Zhè ge zì de zì xíng hěn fù zá.
The form of this character is very complex.
字形。
Shū fǎ jiā duì zì xíng yǒu hěn shēn de yán jiū.
Calligraphers have deep research on character forms.
，字形。
Zài hàn zì xué xí zhōng, liǎo jiě zì xíng hěn zhòng yào.
In learning Chinese characters, understanding the form is important.

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.

字zìcharacter

字 means character and 形 means form; together they denote a character's form.

Characters in this word

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

宀子字

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

子

子zǐ字zì

Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

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.

Appears in

Language Reading & Writing

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