图形 (tú xíng) — figure, shape; diagram, graph, graphic | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

图形 refers to geometric or graphic shapes — figures, diagrams, and graphics (as in 3D graphics or a sales graph). It is more technical than 图 (a general picture) and more about shape/diagram than 图像 (a visual image).

noun

figureshapediagramgraphgraphic

Measure word · 个

Examples

图形。
Zhè ge tú xíng shì yí gè zhèng fāng xíng.
This figure is a square.
图形。
Zhè ge ruǎn jiàn kě yǐ shè jì sān wéi tú xíng.
This software can design 3D graphics.
图形。
Zhè zhāng tú xíng xiǎn shì le jīn nián de xiāo shòu shù jù.
This graph shows this year's sales data.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

图túdiagram

图 and 形 both point to visual form, so the word names a figure or diagram.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 圖; 图 is its simplified writing.

囗啚圖

囗囗wéiwalled city
啚啚bǐ

The traditional form 圖 pairs 囗, a walled city, with 啚, an early form meaning remote areas or territory. The simplified 图 is a later abbreviation.

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

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Shapes

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.