造型 (zào xíng) — (verb) to model; to shape; (noun) form, style,… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

造型 covers both the act of shaping (verb: to model, mold) and the resulting look (noun: form, style, pose). Unlike 形式 (abstract form vs content) or 形状 (pure shape), it implies a designed, aesthetic appearance — a phone's design, a model's pose.

verb

to modelto shape

noun

formstyledesignappearancepose

Examples

造型。
Tā yòng mù tou zào xíng le yì bǎ yǐ zi.
He used wood to model a chair.
造型。
Zhè ge shǒu jī de zào xíng hěn shí shàng.
The design of this phone is very stylish.
造型。
Mó tè zài pāi zhào shí de zào xíng fēi cháng zhòng yào.
The model's pose while taking photos is very important.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

造 means make and 型 means form, so the pair can mean to shape or a 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辵辵chuòto walk

Sound part声符shēngfú

屮

屮chè造zào

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Its origin is unclear, but early forms of 造 include 辵 (to walk) and 口, with 屮 as a sound part, and mean go or arrive.

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

刑土型

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

刑

刑xíng型xíng

Same sound today

型 pairs 土 (earth) with 刑, which supplies the sound; the shape shows an earthen mold, hence form or pattern.

Appears in

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