How to say "figure" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 姿すがたnounFor 'figure' as the visible form or silhouette of a person — how someone appears, their overall look or bearing. It suggests appearance as seen, not measurements or precise outline.
- 形かたちnounFor 'figure' as the physical shape or outline of an object — the default word for shape and form. For a person's bodily figure, スタイル is the closer match.
- 格好かっこうnounFor 'figure' as someone's overall shape, form, or posture — the way a person or thing is shaped or holds itself. It often carries a sense of appearance or bearing rather than exact outline.
- nounThe loanword for 'figure' in the sense of a person's build or physique — whether someone's body shape is good or not. This is the word for compliments or comments on someone's figure.
- nounThe loanword; for 'figure' as a shape or a person's form it is seldom the word you want — it is really the term for figurines and figure skating.
Use 形 for the physical shape of things, 姿 for a person's appearance or silhouette, 格好 for overall look or posture, 「スタイル」 for someone's body figure, and 「フィギュア」 mainly for figurines and figure skating.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 姿すがたfigure
- 形かたち(physical) form
- 格好かっこうshape
- スタイル(one's) figure
- フィギュアfigure
- 人物じんぶつperson
- 影かげshadow
- 模様もようpattern
- 像ぞうimage
- 体型たいけいfigure
- 図形ずけいfigure
- 形態けいたいform
- 象しょうform
- 思い描くおもいえがくto imagine
- 態たいcondition
- 体つきからだつきbody build
- 図版ずはんplate
- 形象けいしょうshape
- 図ずdrawing
- イラストillustration
- 図表ずひょうchart
- あやfigure
- 姿態したいfigure
- 杢もくfigure (pattern in wood)
- 姿形すがたかたちappearance
- ボディラインcontours of one's body
- 物影ものかげform
- 図体ずうたい(large) body
- 数字すうじfigure
- 数値すうちfigure
- 紋もんpattern
- 柄がらbody build
- 形容けいようform
- 体からだbuild
- モールドfigure
- 音形おんけいfigure
- 数すうnumber
- 格かくfigure (form of a syllogism)
See also
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