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形象 meaning in English

xíngxiàng

image; form

HSK 3nounadjective18 strokes

Meaning of 形象

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

xíngxiàng
  1. image
  2. form
  3. figure
  4. visualization
  5. vivid

Measure word: 個|个

How to use 形象

As a noun, 形象 often means public image or the way a person, company, or character comes across. As an adjective, it means vivid or lifelike, often used for descriptions and writing. Example: 他很注意自己的形象。(Tā hěn zhùyì zìjǐ de xíngxiàng.) He pays a lot of attention to his image.

形 (xíng) means shape or form, and 象 (xiàng) means image or likeness, as in 现象 (xiànxiàng). Put a shape together with a likeness and you get the picture people form of someone or something: its image.

Common mistake: Learners often mix up 形象 (xíngxiàng) with 印象 (yìnxiàng). 印象 is the impression left in your mind, while 形象 is the image someone or something presents. So say 给我留下了好印象, not 好形象, for "left a good impression on me."

形象 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

他tā的de形xíng象xiàng全quán毁huǐ了le。
His image is completely ruined.
上shàng海hǎi人rén要yào树shù立lì上shàng海hǎi新xīn形xíng象xiàng。
The Shanghainese people must build up Shanghai's new image.
他tā们men完wán全quán损sǔn坏huài了le国guó家jiā的de形xíng象xiàng。
They completely destroyed the image of the country.
在zài职zhí场chǎng中zhōng对duì某mǒu人rén产chǎn生shēng好hǎo感gǎn是shì很hěn正zhèng常cháng的de，但dàn记jì得de要yào保bǎo持chí专zhuān业yè形xíng象xiàng。
It's normal to experience workplace crushes, but remember to stay professional.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

形 xíng · to appear · 7 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7

象 xiàng · elephant · 11 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11

Related words

Words that share a character with 形象.

印象yìnxiàngimpression (sth that stays in one's mind); a memory
形成xíngchéngto form; to take shape
对象duìxiàngtarget; object; partner; boyfriend; girlfriend
形式xíngshìouter appearance; form
现象xiànxiàngphenomenon; appearance
形状xíngzhuàngform; shape
想象xiǎngxiàngto imagine; to envision; imagination
形容xíngróngto describe; (literary) countenance; appearance
形势xíngshìcircumstances; situation
情形qíngxingcircumstances; situation; state of affairs
大象dàxiàngelephant
象征xiàngzhēngsymbol; emblem; to symbolize; to signify; to represent

Questions about 形象

What does 形象 mean?

形象 (xíngxiàng) means "image; form" and is used as a noun and adjective.

How do you write 形象?

形象 is made of 2 characters: 形 (7 strokes), 象 (11 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.

Is 形象 an HSK word?

Yes. 形象 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How do you say something is described vividly using 形象?

Use 形象 as an adjective, often with 很 or 生动. For example, 这个比喻很形象 (zhège bǐyù hěn xíngxiàng) means "this metaphor is very vivid." The pair 生动形象 (shēngdòng xíngxiàng) is a common set phrase for lively, vivid writing.

What is the difference between 形象 and 形状?

形状 (xíngzhuàng) is the physical shape of an object, like round or square. 形象 is about the image or impression a person, brand, or character gives, or a vivid description. You would talk about the 形状 of a cup but the 形象 of a company.

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