Chinese word

形状

Pronunciation

Pinyinxíng zhuàng

Meaning

  • nounshape

Example

这个零件的形状不对。zhè ge líng jiàn de xíng zhuàng bú duì

This part is the wrong shape.

Illustration for 形状 (shape)

More examples

这个玩具可以改变形状，很有趣。zhè ge wán jù ké yǐ gǎi biàn xíng zhuàng hěn yǒu qù

This toy can change shape, which is very interesting.

Core concept

The pattern made by an object's outline and the positions of its parts.

Common phrases

  • 改变形状gǎi biàn xíng zhuàng

    change shape

  • 保持形状bǎo chí xíng zhuàng

    keep its shape

  • 形状相同xíng zhuàng xiāng tóng

    the same shape

Similar words

样子yàng zi: The appearance or visible condition of a person, object, or situation.
外观wài guān: The outward look of an object's surface and exterior.
形态xíng tài: The organized form in which an object or thing exists.

Definition in Chinese

表示物体的外观或轮廓，以及各部分相互排列的样子。biǎo shì wù tǐ de wài guān huò lún kuò yǐ jí gè bù fèn xiāng hù pái liè de yàng zi

Word origin

形状 (xíngzhuàng, "shape") is formed from 形 (xíng, "form") and 状 (zhuàng, "condition or appearance"), so the compound focuses on visible form and arrangement.

Usage tips

  • English speakers can confuse shape with size: shape concerns an object's form, while size concerns how large or small it is, so changing dimensions does not always change the shape.

Other meanings

  • appearancenoun

Word lists with this word