1.
figure; form; physical appearance; shape and bearing
The overall physical appearance and form of a person or thing, combining both shape and bearing. A slightly literary or emphatic way to refer to someone's outward appearance, used when the speaker wants to convey a fuller picture than either word alone.
姿形が似ている。
They look alike in figure and form.
母の姿形が思い出せない。
I can't recall my mother's appearance.
姿形は変わっても、中身は昔のままだ。
Even though his appearance has changed, on the inside he's the same as before.
A compound pairing two near-synonyms: 姿 ('figure; bearing; silhouette') and 形 ('shape; form'). The combination creates an emphatic expression that covers the full range of someone's physical appearance — build, posture, facial features, and overall impression. It carries a slightly literary or reflective tone.
USAGE:
- Often used when describing someone whose appearance has changed, or when trying to recall how someone looked
- More evocative than simple 外見 ('outward appearance') — implies the speaker is picturing the whole person
- Common in literary, nostalgic, or emotional contexts
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 姿形が変わる: one's appearance changes
- 姿形が似ている: to resemble in appearance
- 姿形を変える: to change one's form
- 美しい姿形: beautiful figure and form
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 姿: figure; bearing — focuses on overall silhouette and posture rather than detailed physical features
- 形: shape; form — emphasizes the outline or structure of something
- 外見: outward appearance — a more neutral, matter-of-fact term for how someone or something looks
- 容姿: looks; personal appearance — focuses specifically on physical attractiveness or beauty