貌 means “appearance, looks, form”

ぼう · bou

Also: countenance

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

かたち, かたどる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ボウ, バク

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 14 strokes

The story

A crouching beast (豸) beside 皃, an old character for a face: the look of a creature. 貌 is outward appearance: 容貌 is a person's looks, a town 変貌する when it changes beyond recognition, and the news promises a scandal's 全貌, the full picture.

Used in 全貌 (zenbou, the whole picture), 変貌 (henbou, transformation), and 容貌 (youbou, looks)

More from Grace & Beauty

• 態 attitude
• 姿 figure
• 華 splendor
• 妙 exquisite
• 柄 pattern
• 趣 taste
• 雅 elegance
• 飾 decorate
• 魅 charm
• 粧 makeup
• 佳 fine
• 麗 beautiful

Learn 貌 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.