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 "shape"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "shape", including 样 (yàng), 形 (xíng), 象 (xiàng). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "shape" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 样 (yàng), 形 (xíng), 象 (xiàng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span yàng, xíng, xiàng — 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
- 形 xíngto appear; to look; form; shapeUseful words: 形象, 形成
- 象 xiàngshape; form; appearance; elephant; image under a map (math.)Useful words: 对象, 印象
Common words for these 3 "shape" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 样 (yàng) — so "shape" 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形象xíng xiàngimage; form; figure; visualization形成xíng chéngto form; to take shape形式xíng shìouter appearance; form; shape; formality对象duì xiàngtarget; object; partner; boyfriend印象yìn xiàngimpression (sth that stays in one's mind); a memory形象xíng xiàngimage; form; figure; visualization
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 3 ways to say "shape".
形 xíng — to appear; to look; form; shape
月亮的形状每天都在变。Yuè liang de xíng zhuàng měi tiān dōu zài biàn.The shape of the moon changes every day.
Common words: 形象 (xíng xiàng)、形成 (xíng chéng)、形式 (xíng shì)
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)
All 3 characters
Open 样、形、象 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.