noun / verb HSK 4
form · shape · appearance · to appear · to form
Meaning
形 refers to the external form, shape, or appearance of something. It can describe physical shapes, visible forms, or how something manifests itself. As a verb, it means to take form or to appear.
Usage
形 is commonly used in compound words and appears frequently in both everyday and formal contexts. It often combines with other characters to form words related to shapes, appearances, and formations. Native speakers use it to describe physical forms, abstract shapes, and the way things present themselves.
Examples
- 01这个计划已经初步形成了。.This plan has already taken initial form.
- 02圆形、方形和三角形是基本的几何图形。, .Circles, squares, and triangles are basic geometric shapes.
Common collocations
- 形成to form, to take shape
- 形容to describe, to depict
- 形势situation, circumstances
- 形象image, figure
Antonyms
Origin
The character 形 is a phonetic-semantic compound. The left side 开 suggests opening or spreading, while the right side 彡 represents patterns or decorative marks, together conveying the idea of visible form or appearance.