样 yàng — manner; pattern; way; appearance; shape
这两件衣服样子差不多。Zhè liǎng jiàn yī fu yàng zi chà bu duō.These two clothes look about the same.
Common words: 一样 (yī yàng)、怎么样 (zěn me yàng)、这样 (zhè yàng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "appearance"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "appearance", including 样 (yàng), 相 (xiāng / xiàng), 像 (xiàng), 象 (xiàng), 色 (sè / shǎi), 容 (róng). Study pinyin…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "appearance" covers 10 different Chinese characters — 样 (yàng), 相 (xiāng / xiàng), 像 (xiàng), 象 (xiàng), 色 (sè / shǎi), 容 (róng), 丰 (fēng), 仪 (yí) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 10 characters do not share a sound — their readings span yàng, xiāng, xiàng, sè, shǎi, róng, and more — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 样 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 样 yàngmanner; pattern; way; appearance; shapeUseful words: 一样, 怎么样
- 相 xiāng / xiàngeach other; one another; mutually; appearance; portrait; pictureUseful words: 相信, 相同
- 像 xiàng(look) like; similar (to); appearance; to appear; to seem; imageUseful words: 好像, 偶像
- 象 xiàngshape; form; appearance; elephant; image under a map (math.)Useful words: 对象, 印象
- 色 sè / shǎicolor; look; appearance; color; diceUseful words: 颜色, 红色
Common words for these 10 "appearance" characters
Anchor each of these 10 characters in a word you can picture — start with 样 (yàng) — so "appearance" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
一样yī yàngsame; like; equal to; the same as怎么样zěn me yànghow?; how about?; how was it?; how are things?这样zhè yàngthis way; like this; so; (before a noun) this kind of相信xiāng xìnto believe; to be convinced; to accept as true相同xiāng tóngidentical; same相机xiàng jīcamera; at the opportune moment; as the circumstances allow好像hǎo xiàngas if; to seem like偶像ǒu xiàngidol摄像机shè xiàng jīvideo camera对象duì xiàngtarget; object; partner; boyfriend
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 10 ways to say "appearance".
相 xiāng / xiàng — each other; one another; mutually; appearance; portrait; picture
这两个词的意思很相近。Zhè liǎng ge cí de yì si hěn xiāng jìn.The meanings of these two words are very similar.
Common words: 相信 (xiāng xìn)、相同 (xiāng tóng)、相机 (xiàng jī)
像 xiàng — (look) like; similar (to); appearance; to appear; to seem; image
这个孩子长得很像他爸爸。Zhè ge hái zi zhǎng de hěn xiàng tā bà ba.This child looks a lot like his father.
Common words: 好像 (hǎo xiàng)、偶像 (ǒu xiàng)、摄像机 (shè xiàng jī)
象 xiàng — shape; form; appearance; elephant; image under a map (math.)
大象的鼻子又长又灵活。Dà xiàng de bí zi yòu cháng yòu líng huó.The trunk of an elephant is long and flexible.
Common words: 对象 (duì xiàng)、印象 (yìn xiàng)、形象 (xíng xiàng)
色 sè / shǎi — color; look; appearance; color; dice
我最喜欢的颜色是蓝色。Wǒ zuì xǐ huan de yán sè shì lán sè.My favorite color is blue.
Common words: 颜色 (yán sè)、红色 (hóng sè)、黑色 (hēi sè)
容 róng — to hold; to contain; to allow; appearance; look; countenance
这个教室能容纳五十个学生。Zhè ge jiào shì néng róng nà wǔ shí ge xué sheng.This classroom can hold fifty students.
Common words: 容易 (róng yì)、内容 (nèi róng)、形容 (xíng róng)
丰 fēng — buxom; good-looking; appearance and carriage of a person; (surname); abundant; plentiful
今年的庄稼获得了大丰收。Jīn nián de zhuāng jia huò dé le dà fēng shōu.The crops had a big harvest this year.
Common words: 丰富 (fēng fù)、丰收 (fēng shōu)、丰富多彩 (fēng fù duō cǎi)
仪 yí — apparatus; rites; appearance; present; ceremony
开学典礼的仪式十分隆重。Kāi xué diǎn lǐ de yí shì shí fēn lóng zhòng.The opening ceremony was very grand.
Common words: 仪式 (yí shì)、仪器 (yí qì)、礼仪 (lǐ yí)
All 10 characters
Open 样、相、像 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.