形 means “shape, form”

かたち · katachi

Also: style

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

かた, かたち, なり

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ケイ, ギョウ

Taught in grade 2 · 7 strokes

The story

The outer form that things take. Japanese artisans obsess over 形: the shape of a tea bowl, the form of a bonsai tree, the silhouette of a torii gate. Beautiful 形 is considered a spiritual practice.

Used in 人形 (ningyou, doll) and 形式 (keishiki, format/style)

Words with 形

• 人形 (にんぎょう, ningyou): doll / puppet

More from Colors & Shapes

• 点 point
• 面 face
• 太 thick
• 細 thin
• 赤 red
• 青 blue
• 白 white
• 黒 black
• 色 color
• 黄 yellow
• 緑 green
• 紫 purple

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

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