象|しょうshou

1. nounform; shape; figure; appearance; phenomenon

• Synonym形かたちNeutralThe everyday word for shape or outline, as in 「丸い形」. Much more common in speech than 象, which is bookish and mostly appears in compounds like 「現象」「印象」.
• Synonym形態けいたいWrittenWritten/formal word for the form or mode something takes, as in 「生活形態」; leans toward structural type rather than visible shape.
• Synonym姿すがたNeutralA person's or thing's overall figure or how they look, as in 「後ろ姿」; stresses the whole appearance rather than shape itself.
• Synonym形状けいじょうWrittenWritten word for the shape of an object, as in 「葉の形状」; leans toward geometric outline.
• Synonym外形がいけいWrittenWritten word for the outer form or silhouette, as in 「外形が似ている」; focuses on the external contour.
• Synonym形象けいしょうWrittenWritten word for shape or image; little used in modern Japanese.
• SynonymシェイプNeutralLoanword for shape, especially one's body shape, as in 「シェイプアップ」; often has a fitness nuance.
• Synonym形体なりかたちWrittenThe same word as 形態 above, also written 「形体」; refers to the form of an organization or object and forms terms like 「形態論」.
• Synonym姿形すがたかたちNeutralA person's looks and figure taken together, as in 「姿形が美しい」; centers on human appearance.
• Related格好かっこうNeutralColloquial word for how someone looks or is dressed, as in 「変な格好」; leans toward outfit and outward style.
• Related像ぞうNeutralAn image or figure, as in 「仏像」「理想像」; leans toward statues and abstract images.
• Related外見がいけんNeutralHow a person or thing looks from outside, as in 「外見で判断する」; focuses on surface looks.
• Related形姿なりすがたWrittenWritten word for dress and overall appearance; very rare today.
• Related形貌けいぼうWrittenWritten word for a person's face and figure, their looks; very rare today.

象 refers to how a thing appears and mostly works as the compound element 「象」, as in 「現象」「印象」「対象」. For plain shape say 「形」, for form or mode 「形態」, for figure or how someone looks 「姿」, and for outward looks 「外見」. The written-style 形状 and 外形 suit formal prose; 形象, 形姿 and 形貌 are rare today.

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

1. もの・ことの外見がいけんや姿すがた。どのように見みえるか。