How to say "form" in Japanese

• 格好かっこうJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounCovers the outward shape or form of a person or thing — how it looks, including posture. Think of a shape or silhouette you can see, not abstract or document senses of 'form'.
• 姿すがたJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounRefers to the figure, form, or shape of someone or something as it appears — often a person's figure, or the visible form in which something shows itself.
  自分じぶんの姿すがたを鏡かがみにうつして見みなさい。↗

  Look at yourself in the mirror.
• 状じょうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)On its own this is seldom the word you want for 'form'; it works chiefly as a combining element inside compounds rather than as an independent noun, so learners rarely need it by itself.
• なすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb sense of 'form': to make or bring something into being, or to constitute it, as when parts or elements together form a whole.
  イナゴが大群たいぐんをなしてやってきた。↗

  Locusts came in big swarms.
• フォームJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe loanword, used for a form you fill in — on paper or online — and for form in the sense of style or technique of movement, as in sports.

Use 「フォーム」 for a fill-in form or athletic form, 格好 for outward shape or posture, 姿 for a person's figure or visible appearance, 「なす」 for the verb 'to form', and avoid 状 on its own.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 格好かっこうshape
• 姿すがたfigure
• 状じょうform
• なすto form
• フォームform
• 形式けいしきform (as opposed to substance)
• 方式ほうしきform
• フィギュアfigure
• 形状けいじょうshape
• 形態けいたいform
• 象しょうform
• 形作るかたちづくるto form
• フォーマットformat
• 様式ようしきstyle
• 宿るやどるto dwell (in)
• 式しきway
• 活版かっぱんform (of type)
• 原版げんぱんform (printing)
• 体型たいけいfigure
• 型枠かたわくformwork
• 形けいform
• 形かたshape
• 佇まいたたずまいappearance
• なりstyle
• 体ていappearance
• 形相けいそうform
• 様態ようたいform
• エイドスform (in Aristotelianism)
• 物影ものかげform
• フォルムform
• 姿態したいfigure
• 姿形すがたかたちappearance
• 形かたち(physical) form
• 張るはるto form (e.g. ice on a pond)
• できるto come into existence
• 型かたkata (set sequence of positions and movements in martial arts)
• 降るふるto form (of frost)
• 組み立てるくみたてるto form (words, sentences, etc.)
• 像ぞうfigure
• 形容けいようform
• ようform
• 体裁ていさい(proper) format (e.g. of an essay)
• 目鼻めはなshape
• 体たいshape
• モールドfigure
• 組版くみはんform
• 作りづくりform
• 品種ひんしゅ(taxonomical) form
• 入るはいるto form (of a crack, fissure, etc.)
• 作るつくるto form (a line, etc.)
• 線せんoutline
• 立つたつto develop (of a haze, waves, etc.)
• 降りるおりるto form (of frost, dew, mist, etc.)
• 吹くふくto appear (on the surface)
• 握るにぎるto make (nigirizushi, rice ball, etc.)
• 調ちょうstyle