Usage note
“外形”指东西的形状和样子。
“Wài xíng” zhǐ dōngxi de xíngzhuàng hé yàngzi.
"Appearance, shape" refers to the shape and look of something.
Context note
我们常常用“外形”来描述一个物体的形状，比如圆形或方形。
Wǒmen chángcháng yòng “wài xíng” lái miáoshù yīgè wùtǐ de xíngzhuàng, bǐrú yuánxíng huò fāngxíng.
We often use "appearance, shape" to describe the shape of an object, like round or square.
5 examples
这个球的外形是圆的。
zhè ge qiú de wài xíng shì yuán de。
The shape of this ball is round.
积木的外形有很多种。
jī mù de wài xíng yǒu hěn duō zhǒng。
The shapes of the building blocks are many kinds.
苹果的外形像一个小球。
píng guǒ de wài xíng xiàng yí gè xiǎo qiú。
The shape of an apple is like a small ball.
这个盒子的外形是方形的。
zhè ge hé zi de wài xíng shì fāng xíng de。
The shape of this box is square.
月亮的外形有时像弯钩。
yuè liàng de wài xíng yǒu shí xiàng wān gōu。
The shape of the moon is sometimes like a curved hook.
5 mini stories
小汽车的外形很酷。外形是红色的。
xiǎo qì chē de wài xíng hěn kù。 wài xíng shì hóng sè de。
The shape of the little car is very cool. The shape is red.
橡皮的外形是小熊。外形很可爱。
xiàng pí de wài xíng shì xiǎo xióng。 wài xíng hěn kě ài。
The shape of the eraser is a little bear. The shape is very cute.
饼干的外形是星星。外形上有糖霜。
bǐng gān de wài xíng shì xīng xīng。 wài xíng shàng yǒu táng shuāng。
The shape of the cookie is a star. The shape has icing.
树叶的外形像手掌。外形是绿色的。
shù yè de wài xíng xiàng shǒu zhǎng。 wài xíng shì lǜ sè de。
The shape of the leaf is like a palm. The shape is green.
房子的外形是三角形的。外形很特别。
fáng zi de wài xíng shì sān jiǎo xíng de。 wài xíng hěn tè bié。
The shape of the house is triangular. The shape is very special.
Mini dialogue
Describing a Toy
A
你的新玩具有什么特别的外形？
Nǐ de xīn wánjù yǒu shénme tèbié de wàixíng?
What special shape does your new toy have?
B
它的外形像一只小猫。
Tā de wàixíng xiàng yī zhī xiǎo māo.
Its shape looks like a little cat.
Cloud Shapes
A
你看，那朵云的外形像什么？
Nǐ kàn, nà duǒ yún de wàixíng xiàng shénme?
Look, what does that cloud's shape look like?
B
我觉得像一只兔子。
Wǒ juéde xiàng yī zhī tùzi.
I think it looks like a rabbit.
Related words and contrasts
similar
形状
xíng zhuàng
shape, form
形状 is often used for the physical form of objects.
similar
样子
yàng zi
look, appearance
样子 can also mean appearance, similar to 外形.
opposite
内部
nèi bù
inside, interior
内部 refers to the inside, opposite of external shape.