形态 (xíng tài) — shape, form; pattern, morphology | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

形态 (xíngtài) means the shape or form of something — concrete (a mountain's outline) or abstract (social patterns). More academic/scientific than 样子, and broader than 形状 (which is only physical shape).

noun

shapeformpatternmorphology

Examples

形态。
Shān de xíng tài xiàng yì zhī lǎo hǔ.
The shape of the mountain is like a tiger.
形态。
Shēng wù xué jiā yán jiū le zhè zhǒng zhí wù de xíng tài.
Biologists studied the morphology of this plant.
，形态。
Suí zhe jīng jì fā zhǎn, shè huì xíng tài yě zài biàn huà.
With economic development, social patterns are also changing.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

形 (form) and 态 (state) combine to mean shape or morphology.

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.

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.

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

太心态

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

太

太tài态tài

Same sound today

态 is made of 太, which gives the sound, and 心 (heart).

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Biology Shapes

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