外形 wàixíng figure
figure; shape; external form; contour
How to remember 外形: 外 outside + 形 form = figure.
Characters
How it is used
- 外形 (wàixíng) means external shape/form/contour, usually of an object or product.
- Common collocation: 外形设计 (wàixíng shèjì, exterior/shape design) - used in product reviews for phones, cars, appliances.
- Close to 外观 (wàiguān, outward appearance) - 外形 emphasizes the physical shape/contour itself, while 外观 emphasizes the overall look, finish, and impression (including color, texture, style).
- Rarely used for people's looks in a neutral way - for a person's build/figure, 身材 (shēncái) is more natural.
Example sentences
- 地球的外形和橙子相似。 Dìqiú de wàixíng hé chéngzi xiāngsì.The earth is similar to an orange in shape.