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形 (xíng) — shape; form; contour; to appear; to take form; appearance; look

Definition

形 (xíng) is a bound form meaning 'shape' or 'form' — it doesn't stand alone, so it combines with suffixes like 形状 (xíngzhuàng, shape) or 形式 (xíngshì, form). Also used in verbs like 形成 (xíngchéng, to form/take shape).

bound form
shapeformcontourto appearto take formappearancelook

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè xiē shí tou de xíng zhuàng gè yì.
    These rocks come in all different shapes.
  • 。
    Bīng zài dī wēn xià xíng chéng le gù tǐ.
    Ice forms a solid at low temperatures.
  • 。
    Zhè fú huà de xíng shì hěn dú tè.
    The form of this painting is very unique.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
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