形
Mnemonic
A grand gate stands before you, its arch cutting a dramatic shape against the sky. A woman walks through it, her enormous hairstyle perfectly mirroring the gate's curved outline — as though the gate itself molded the shape of her hair.
Additional thoughts
Picture the gate as a cookie cutter: anything passing through gets pressed into that exact shape. The hairstyle becomes living proof of that shaping force, its silhouette a perfect copy of the arch.Quick recall
A gate's arch molds a hairstyle into its exact shape.Details
The keyword for 形 is shape. This kanji refers to the outward form, figure, or appearance of something — the visible contour or configuration that defines how an object looks. It encompasses both physical shapes and more abstract forms, such as the shape of a situation or the form of an idea. It is one of the most fundamental kanji for describing how things appear to the eye.
- On'yomi
- けい、ぎょう
- Kun'yomi
- かた、-がた、かたち、なり