形态

• Pinyin: xíng tài
• Hanzi breakdown: 形 = 开 (open) + 彡 (hair/lines), meaning form; 态 = 太 (great) + 心 (heart), meaning state

Meaning

Form; shape; morphology; state. The physical appearance or structure of something.

Used in scientific, academic, and artistic contexts to describe the form or structure of objects, organisms, or concepts. Common in biology (形态学 morphology), art (艺术形态), and social science (社会形态). More technical than 形状 (shape).

Examples

1. 这种动物有着独特的形态结构。 This animal has a unique morphological structure.
2. 随着时代发展，社会形态也在不断变化。 As times develop, social forms are also constantly changing.
3. 艺术家用各种形态来表达自己的想法。 Artists use various forms to express their ideas.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, scientific

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 水有三种基本形态。(Water has three basic forms.)
• 这种植物的形态很特别。(The morphology of this plant is very special.)

Don't Say

• 你的形态不好 (Awkward for people — use 姿态 for posture or 状态 for condition)

Origin & History

Compound of 形 (form, shape) and 态 (state, manner), meaning the state of form.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal