Chinese word

变形

Pronunciation

Pinyinbiàn xíng

Meaning

  • verbchange shape

Example

塑料在高温下会变形。sù liào zài gāo wēn xià huì biàn xíng

Plastic changes shape at high temperatures.

Illustration for 变形 (change shape)

More examples

桥梁在地震中受力变形，但没有倒塌。qiáo liáng zài dì zhèn zhōng shòu lì biàn xíng dàn méi yǒu dǎo tā

The bridge deformed under the force of the earthquake, but it did not collapse.

Core concept

An object's familiar outline is pushed, heated, or otherwise changed into a different form.

Common phrases

  • 发生变形fā shēng biàn xíng

    undergo deformation

  • 受力变形shòu lì biàn xíng

    deform under force

  • 在高温下变形zài gāo wēn xià biàn xíng

    deform at high temperatures

Similar words

弯曲wān qū: Curve away from a straight line or a flat surface.
扭曲niǔ qū: Become twisted and lose the original shape or direction.
翘曲qiào qū: Bend upward and lose a flat, even surface.

Definition in Chinese

指物体因外力、温度等因素而改变原有的形状。zhǐ wù tǐ yīn wài lì wēn dù děng yīn sù ér gǎi biàn yuán yǒu de xíng zhuàng

Word origin

变 (biàn, "change") + 形 (xíng, "shape") forms a word for an object's visible form becoming different.

Usage tips

  • English often uses separate verbs such as bend, warp, or buckle, while 变形 (biànxíng, "change shape") covers the general result without naming how the shape changed.

Other meanings

  • deformationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 变形量biàn xíng liàngdeformation amountnoun
  • 弹性变形tán xìng biàn xíngelastic deformationnoun

Word lists with this word