形

Glyph origin
. In current form 幵 has been simplified to.

It may also be interpreted as a, if the original character was.

Definitions

 * 1) form; shape; appearance
 * 2) image; appearance
 * 3) body; entity; contour
 * 4) style; vogue
 * 5) to appear; to display
 * 6) to form; to become
 * 7) to compare
 * 1) to appear; to display
 * 2) to form; to become
 * 3) to compare
 * 1) to compare
 * 1) to compare

Kanji

 * 1) shape, form, style

Compounds

 * : the phonosemantic formation of a kanji character from elements signifying meaning and elements signifying sound
 * : formation, shape
 * : physical, material
 * : metaphysical
 * : metaphysics
 * : adjective
 * : adjectival noun, na- adjective
 * : shape, form
 * : morphology
 * : morphology
 * : physical shape
 * : a facial expression, a look
 * : the form, the eidos; the Platonic ideal
 * : protoplasm

Etymology 1
From. First attested in the  of 720.

Probably related to /  /.

Noun

 * 1)  a shape
 * 2)  a form
 * 3)  a pattern, die, or model from which copies are made
 * 4)  collateral for borrowed money
 * 5)  on a coin, the side with writing on it

Etymology 2
Derived from kata above. Found most commonly as a suffixing element in compounds.

The standalone noun sense was originally a shortening of, a female role played by a male actor in kabuki theater. This noun sense is only spelled with the kanji.

Noun

 * , a female role played by a male actor in kabuki theater

Suffix

 * : the shape or form of the affixed noun
 * : a typical example of the affixed noun; the type of the affixed noun
 * : a typical example of the affixed noun; the type of the affixed noun
 * : a typical example of the affixed noun; the type of the affixed noun

Usage notes

 * For a shape, the spelling is more commonly used. For a type, the spelling  is more commonly used.

Etymology 3
From. First attested in the  of 720.

Compound of, but the derivation of the chi element is unclear.

Noun

 * 1)  shape or form
 * 2)  shapeliness: see
 * 3)  form, as opposed to substance

Etymology 4
From. Compare modern 🇨🇬. The reading, so likely a later borrowing.

Suffix

 * 1)  grammatical tense
 * 2)  a conjugation form of a verb
 * 1)  a conjugation form of a verb
 * 1)  a conjugation form of a verb

Etymology 5
From. First attested in the  of 720.

From, the of the verb.

First attested as a suffix on a noun in the, of uncertain dating but probably in the late 1300s. As a suffix on a verb stem, first attested from 1927.

Usage notes

 * The most common spelling for this use is, for all parts of speech.

Noun

 * 1)  the shape or form of something
 * 2)  one's clothing and appearance
 * 3)  one's body shape or form
 * 4)  one's circumstances or situation
 * 5)  one's reputation
 * : compare English
 * : compare English
 * : compare English
 * 1)  ... while ...
 * : compare English
 * 1)  ... while ...
 * 1)  ... while ...
 * 1)  ... while ...
 * 1)  ... while ...

Suffix

 * 1) following the  of a verb, indicates the state of the affixed verb or phrase: compare English
 * 2)  following a noun, indicates a state fitting or becoming to the affixed noun
 * 3)  following a noun, indicates that shape or form: compare English
 * 1)  following a noun, indicates that shape or form: compare English
 * 1)  following a noun, indicates that shape or form: compare English
 * 1)  following a noun, indicates that shape or form: compare English

Etymology
From.

Han character

 * 1) image
 * 2) a figure or a silhouette
 * 3)  a photo; a picture
 * 4)  a shape