形容

• Pinyin: xíng róng
• Hanzi breakdown: 形 = 开 (phonetic) + 彡 (decoration/lines); 容 = 宀 (roof) + 谷 (valley) — something held within

Meaning

To describe; to depict in words.

Used when putting feelings, scenes, or qualities into words. Often appears in structures like 很难形容 (hard to describe) or 用…来形容 (describe with…). Slightly more literary than 描述; emphasises the act of capturing something in language.

Examples

1. 看到那幅画的瞬间，我很难用语言形容自己的感受。 The moment I saw that painting, it was hard to find words to describe my feelings.
2. 他用生动的词语形容了这次旅行的经历，让大家都想去看看。 He described the experience of this trip in vivid terms, making everyone want to go and see for themselves.
3. 怎么形容这里的景色呢？美得让人不敢相信。 How would you describe the scenery here? It's so beautiful it's hard to believe.

Usage Guide

Context: language, everyday, literature

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这种快乐真的很难形容，只有亲身经历才能明白。(This kind of happiness is really hard to describe — you can only understand it by experiencing it yourself.)
• 他用一个词来形容她：完美。(He used one word to describe her: perfect.)

Don't Say

• 形容一件物品的重量或尺寸而不加说明，如这个包形容很重。(Don't use 形容 in a sentence where 描述 or 感觉 is needed — say 这个包感觉很重 instead.)

Origin & History

Compound of 形 (shape/form) and 容 (appearance/contain), together meaning to give shape to something in words.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal