外形|がいけいgaikei[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounexternals; external form

• Synonym外見がいけんNeutralHow a person or thing looks from outside; more common in everyday use and leans toward people's looks and dress, while 「外形」 focuses on outline and shape.
• Synonym見かけみかけCasualColloquial: how something looks, often contrasted with reality, as in 「見かけによらず」; 「外形」 states shape objectively only.
• Synonym外観がいかんNeutralThe overall look, mostly of buildings and products; more common than 「外形」. They overlap for concrete shapes, but fixed phrases like 「外形寸法」 won't take 「外観」.
• Synonym外面がいめんWrittenRead 「がいめん」 or 「げめん」; both mean the outer surface of an object, and 「げめん」 also covers the look one shows others. 「外形」 is the whole shape, not the surface layer.
• Synonym見た目みためCasualColloquial: how someone or something looks, as in 「見た目は若い」; 「外形」 is the more written-style word for objective outline and shape.
• Synonym形かたちNeutralA person's appearance or dress, seen in 「なりふり構わず」 and 「大きななり」; mainly about people, while 「外形」 is objective shape.
• Synonym形状けいじょうNeutralThe shape of an object, common in technical and spec writing, as in 「形状記憶」; 「外形」 is the form seen from outside — the two are often interchangeable.
• Synonym形態けいたいWrittenWritten/formal prose: the form something takes, also ways of organizing things, as in 「雇用形態」 and 「販売形態」; 「外形」 covers only visible outer shape.
• Synonym姿すがたNeutralA person's figure or silhouette, also how a thing presents itself; everyday and common, while 「外形」 sticks to outline and is more written-style.
• Synonym格好かっこうCasualColloquial and common: how one looks or dresses, also presentability, as in 「格好をつける」; 「外形」 is more written and purely about shape.
• SynonymシェイプCasualLoanword, colloquial: mostly fitness and body shaping, as in 「シェイプアップ」, also shape generally; for outer shape, 「外形」 is the default.
• RelatedルックスCasualLoanword, colloquial: mostly people's looks, but also the styling of cars or products; 「外形」 is an objective outline with no judgement of attractiveness.
• Related体裁ていさいWrittenWritten/formal prose: the decent face one shows others, also the format of a text, as in 「体裁が悪い」; 「外形」 has nothing to do with face — shape only.
• Related見栄えみばえNeutralLooking good, making a fine show, as in 「見栄えがする」; positive by nature, with 「見栄えが悪い」 as its negation. 「外形」 says nothing about looks.
• Related表面ひょうめんNeutralThe outermost surface, as in 「表面が滑らか」, and by extension outward show; 「外形」 is the whole outline, not that surface layer.
• Related体型たいけいNeutralOnly the build or physique of people and animals, as in 「体型が変わる」; 「外形」 applies more widely, to objects and buildings too.
• Related容姿ようしWrittenWritten/formal prose: a person's face and figure, as in 「容姿端麗」 — people only; 「外形」 says nothing about looks.
• RelatedなりNeutralA person's appearance or dress, seen in 「なりふり構わず」 and 「大きななり」; mainly about people, while 「外形」 is objective shape.
• Related体ていWrittenWritten/formal prose: an air or state, mostly in 「〜の体で」, stressing an assumed or presented manner; 「外形」 is a concrete outline.
• RelatedざまCasualColloquial: read 「ざま」, a sorry or pitiable state, as in 「ざまあみろ」, with a mocking edge — a far cry from the neutral description 「外形」 gives.
• Related形体なりかたちWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare: a person's overall bearing and dress; for the outline of an object or body, 「外形」 is the word to use.
• Related形貌けいぼうWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare: a person's looks and bearing, sometimes shape in general; for everyday talk of an object's or body's outline, use 「外形」.
• Antonym内実ないじつWrittenWritten/formal prose: inside facts outsiders don't know, as in 「内実は苦しい」; opposite of 「外形」 as inner reality versus outer form.
• Antonym内容ないようNeutralWhat's inside or the substance, as in 「内容が薄い」; stands against 「外形」 as substance versus outward form.

Use 「外形」 for the shape or outline seen from outside — objects, the human body, and buildings all take it. For how something looks, use 「外見」 or 「見た目」; for shape itself, 「形状」; for forms of systems, 「形態」. Others narrow the field: 「外観」 for buildings and products, 「体型」 and 「容姿」 for the body, 「ルックス」 and 「格好」 for casual talk, 「見栄え」 for looking good. Opposed are 「内容」 and 「内実」 — substance and inside facts that 「外形」 leaves out.

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

1. 外そとから見みた形かたち。