Japanese symbol for “form”
形
かたち
Romaji: katachi
(physical) form; shape; figure
In Japanese, form is 形, read かたち (katachi).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n (physical) form; shape; figure
- n visage; (facial) features; appearance (of a person); figure; looks
- n form (as opposed to substance); manner (of action); style; (outward) appearance
- n (resultant) state; situation; condition; form
- n behaviour (towards others); attitude; demeanor; manners
- n shape (positional qualities of a group of stones) (go)
Written forms: 形、容、貌. Readings: かたち.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “form”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 形式 | けいしき keishiki | form (as opposed to substance) |
| 姿 | すがた sugata | figure; form; shape |
| 方式 | ほうしき houshiki | form; method; system |
| 形態 | けいたい keitai | form; shape; figure |
| 作る | つくる tsukuru | to form (a line, etc.) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 形式 | けいしき keishiki | form (as opposed to substance) |
| 人形 | にんぎょう ningyou | doll; puppet; marionette |
| 形成 | けいせい keisei | formation; molding; making (up) |
| 変形 | へんけい henkei | transformation; variation; metamorphosis |
| 形態 | けいたい keitai | form; shape; figure |
| 山形 | やまがた yamagata | Yamagata (city, prefecture) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “form”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.