Shapes in Traditional Chinese: 60+ Easy Words & Real-Life Phrases for Beginners

Need to describe a logo, pick a cookie cutter, or explain why that “circle” you drew is actually an anxious potato? This list gives you shape vocabulary in Traditional Chinese with pinyin and usable example sentences.

Start with the core shapes, then steal the ready-made phrases for shopping, design, crafts, math class (sorry), and daily life.

Quick Visual Cards: the shapes you’ll use everywhere

Tap the audio to hear the Chinese. The pinyin is there so your mouth doesn’t panic.

圓形

yuán xíng

circle; circular shape

這個盤子是圓形的。
Zhège pánzi shì yuánxíng de.
This plate is circular.

正方形

zhèng fāng xíng

square

這張便利貼是正方形的。
Zhè zhāng biànlìtiē shì zhèngfāngxíng de.
This sticky note is square.

長方形

cháng fāng xíng

rectangle

這個螢幕是長方形的。
Zhège yíngmù shì chángfāngxíng de.
This screen is rectangular.

三角形

sān jiǎo xíng

triangle

披薩可以切成三角形。
Pīsà kěyǐ qiē chéng sānjiǎoxíng.
Pizza can be cut into triangles.

星形

xīng xíng

star-shaped

這個餅乾是星形的。
Zhège bǐnggān shì xīngxíng de.
This cookie is star-shaped.

心形

xīn xíng

heart-shaped

她送我一顆心形巧克力。
Tā sòng wǒ yì kē xīnxíng qiǎokèlì.
She gave me a heart-shaped chocolate.

菱形

líng xíng

diamond; rhombus

那個路標是菱形的。
Nàge lùbiāo shì língxíng de.
That road sign is diamond-shaped.

橢圓形

tuǒ yuán xíng

oval; elliptical

這顆蛋是橢圓形的。
Zhè kē dàn shì tuǒyuánxíng de.
This egg is oval.

Relevant phrases and sentences you can copy-paste

These are the ones you’ll actually say when describing a shape, a design, or a product.

這是什麼形狀？

zhè shì shénme xíng zhuàng?

What shape is this?

這是什麼形狀？我看不出來。
Zhè shì shénme xíngzhuàng? Wǒ kàn bù chūlái.
It’s what shape? I can’t tell.

它是圓形的。

tā shì yuán xíng de.

It’s round.

這個標誌很可愛，它是圓形的。
Zhège biāozhì hěn kě’ài, tā shì yuánxíng de.
This logo is cute; it’s round.

我想要正方形的。

wǒ xiǎng yào zhèng fāng xíng de.

I want a square one.

不是圓的，我想要正方形的。
Bú shì yuán de, wǒ xiǎng yào zhèngfāngxíng de.
Not a round one—I want a square one.

把紙剪成三角形。

bǎ zhǐ jiǎn chéng sān jiǎo xíng.

Cut the paper into a triangle.

我們把紙剪成三角形來做旗子。
Wǒmen bǎ zhǐ jiǎn chéng sānjiǎoxíng lái zuò qízi.
We cut the paper into triangles to make flags.

畫一條直線。

huà yì tiáo zhí xiàn.

Draw a straight line.

用尺畫一條直線。
Yòng chǐ huà yì tiáo zhíxiàn.
Use a ruler to draw a straight line.

這個角是直角。

zhè ge jiǎo shì zhí jiǎo.

This angle is a right angle.

這個角是直角，剛好九十度。
Zhège jiǎo shì zhíjiǎo, gānghǎo jiǔshí dù.
This angle is a right angle—exactly 90 degrees.

兩條線是平行的。

liǎng tiáo xiàn shì píng xíng de.

The two lines are parallel.

這兩條線是平行的，不會交叉。
Zhè liǎng tiáo xiàn shì píngxíng de, bú huì jiāochā.
These two lines are parallel; they won’t intersect.

這個圖案很對稱。

zhè ge tú àn hěn duì chèn.

This pattern is very symmetrical.

左右一樣，這個圖案很對稱。
Zuǒyòu yíyàng, zhège tú’àn hěn duìchèn.
Left and right match—this pattern is very symmetrical.

邊緣很圓滑。

biān yuán hěn yuán huá.

The edge is smooth/rounded.

這個杯子邊緣很圓滑，不會刮嘴。
Zhège bēizi biānyuán hěn yuánhuá, bú huì guā zuǐ.
The rim is smooth, so it won’t scratch your lips.

角很尖。

jiǎo hěn jiān.

The corner is sharp.

這個盒子角很尖，小心別撞到。
Zhège hézi jiǎo hěn jiān, xiǎoxīn bié zhuàng dào.
The corners are sharp—careful not to bump into it.

這個盒子是立方體。

zhè ge hé zi shì lì fāng tǐ.

This box is a cube.

這個盒子是立方體，剛好一樣高和寬。
Zhège hézi shì lìfāngtǐ, gānghǎo yíyàng gāo hé kuān.
It’s a cube—height and width match.

這個瓶子是圓柱體。

zhè ge píng zi shì yuán zhù tǐ.

This bottle is a cylinder.

這個瓶子是圓柱體，放進杯架剛好。
Zhège píngzi shì yuánzhùtǐ, fàng jìn bēijià gānghǎo.
It’s cylindrical, so it fits the cup holder.

A quick “why so many endings?” note

形、狀、體: three super common endings

形 (xíng) is “shape.” You’ll see it in words like 三角形 (triangle) and 星形 (star-shaped).

狀 (zhuàng) means “form/state.” It shows up when describing something as “-shaped,” like 球狀 (spherical) or 柱狀 (column-like).

體 (tǐ) is used for 3D solids, like 立方體 (cube) and 圓柱體 (cylinder).

形狀 xíng zhuàng shape 球狀 qiú zhuàng spherical 圓柱體 yuán zhù tǐ cylinder

Table of words: 2D shapes

Core shapes

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
形狀	xíng zhuàng	shape	我喜歡這個餅乾的形狀。 Wǒ xǐhuān zhège bǐnggān de xíngzhuàng.	I like the shape of this cookie.
方形	fāng xíng	square-shaped	桌子是方形的。 Zhuōzi shì fāngxíng de.	The table is square-shaped.
矩形	jǔ xíng	rectangle (math term)	這張貼紙是矩形。 Zhè zhāng tiēzhǐ shì jǔxíng.	This sticker is a rectangle.
菱形	líng xíng	diamond; rhombus	那個標誌是菱形的。 Nàge biāozhì shì língxíng de.	That sign is diamond-shaped.
平行四邊形	píng xíng sì biān xíng	parallelogram	這個圖形像平行四邊形。 Zhège túxíng xiàng píngxíng sìbiānxíng.	This figure looks like a parallelogram.
梯形	tī xíng	trapezoid	窗戶上方有一個梯形的裝飾。 Chuānghù shàngfāng yǒu yí ge tīxíng de zhuāngshì.	There’s a trapezoid decoration above the window.
五邊形	wǔ biān xíng	pentagon	足球的圖案裡常有五邊形。 Zúqiú de tú’àn lǐ cháng yǒu wǔbiānxíng.	Soccer patterns often have pentagons.
六邊形	liù biān xíng	hexagon	蜂巢是六邊形的。 Fēngcháo shì liùbiānxíng de.	Honeycombs are hexagonal.
七邊形	qī biān xíng	heptagon	我今天第一次畫七邊形。 Wǒ jīntiān dì yī cì huà qībiānxíng.	Today I drew a heptagon for the first time.
八邊形	bā biān xíng	octagon	那面鏡子是八邊形。 Nà miàn jìngzi shì bābiānxíng.	That mirror is an octagon.
九邊形	jiǔ biān xíng	nonagon	九邊形看起來很複雜。 Jiǔbiānxíng kàn qǐlái hěn fùzá.	A nonagon looks complicated.
十邊形	shí biān xíng	decagon	十邊形有十條邊。 Shíbiānxíng yǒu shí tiáo biān.	A decagon has ten sides.
多邊形	duō biān xíng	polygon	這是個不規則的多邊形。 Zhè shì ge bù guīzé de duōbiānxíng.	This is an irregular polygon.
半圓	bàn yuán	semicircle	這個窗戶是半圓的。 Zhège chuānghù shì bàn yuán de.	This window is semicircular.
扇形	shàn xíng	sector (fan shape)	手搖扇打開是扇形。 Shǒuyáo shàn dǎkāi shì shànxíng.	A hand fan opens into a sector shape.
圓環	yuán huán	ring (shape)	救生圈是圓環。 Jiùshēngquān shì yuánhuán.	A life buoy is a ring.
月牙形	yuè yá xíng	crescent-shaped	月亮有時候是月牙形。 Yuèliàng yǒu shíhou shì yuèyáxíng.	The moon is sometimes crescent-shaped.
十字形	shí zì xíng	cross-shaped	這顆螺絲的槽是十字形。 Zhè kē luósī de cáo shì shízìxíng.	The screw slot is cross-shaped.

More shape words: symbols and “cute” shapes

Common in logos, crafts, and design

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
五角星	wǔ jiǎo xīng	five-pointed star	國旗上有五角星。 Guóqí shàng yǒu wǔjiǎoxīng.	There’s a five-pointed star on the flag.
箭頭形	jiàn tóu xíng	arrow-shaped	指標是箭頭形的。 Zhǐbiāo shì jiàntóuxíng de.	The indicator is arrow-shaped.
水滴形	shuǐ dī xíng	teardrop-shaped	這個吊飾是水滴形。 Zhège diàoshì shì shuǐdīxíng.	This pendant is teardrop-shaped.
雲朵形	yún duǒ xíng	cloud-shaped	枕頭有雲朵形的。 Zhěntou yǒu yúnduǒxíng de.	There are cloud-shaped pillows.
花瓣形	huā bàn xíng	petal-shaped	這個盤子是花瓣形。 Zhège pánzi shì huābànxíng.	This plate is petal-shaped.
弧形	hú xíng	arched; curved shape	橋是弧形的。 Qiáo shì húxíng de.	The bridge is arched.
波浪形	bō làng xíng	wavy (shape)	她的頭髮是波浪形。 Tā de tóufǎ shì bōlàngxíng.	Her hair is wavy.
叉形	chā xíng	X-shaped; fork-shaped	路口是叉形的。 Lùkǒu shì chāxíng de.	The intersection is fork-shaped.
之字形	zhī zì xíng	zigzag-shaped	山路是之字形。 Shānlù shì zhīzìxíng.	The mountain road zigzags.

Table of words: 3D shapes

Solids and “-shaped” forms

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
立體	lì tǐ	3D; solid (not flat)	這不是平面的，是立體的。 Zhè bú shì píngmiàn de, shì lìtǐ de.	This isn’t flat; it’s 3D.
立方體	lì fāng tǐ	cube	冰塊常常是立方體。 Bīngkuài chángcháng shì lìfāngtǐ.	Ice cubes are often cubes.
長方體	cháng fāng tǐ	rectangular prism	鞋盒通常是長方體。 Xiéhé tōngcháng shì chángfāngtǐ.	Shoe boxes are usually rectangular prisms.
球體	qiú tǐ	sphere	籃球接近球體。 Lánqiú jiējìn qiútǐ.	A basketball is close to a sphere.
圓柱體	yuán zhù tǐ	cylinder	這個保溫杯是圓柱體。 Zhège bǎowēnbēi shì yuánzhùtǐ.	This thermos is a cylinder.
圓錐體	yuán zhuī tǐ	cone	冰淇淋甜筒像圓錐體。 Bīngqílín tiántǒng xiàng yuánzhuītǐ.	An ice cream cone looks like a cone.
金字塔形	jīn zì tǎ xíng	pyramid-shaped	有些帳篷是金字塔形的。 Yǒuxiē zhàngpéng shì jīnzìtǎxíng de.	Some tents are pyramid-shaped.
半球體	bàn qiú tǐ	hemisphere	這個碗大概是半球體。 Zhège wǎn dàgài shì bànqiútǐ.	This bowl is roughly a hemisphere.
棱柱	léng zhù	prism	這個積木像三角棱柱。 Zhège jīmù xiàng sānjiǎo léngzhù.	This block looks like a triangular prism.
棱錐	léng zhuī	pyramid (solid)	這個飾品像四角棱錐。 Zhège shìpǐn xiàng sì jiǎo léngzhuī.	This ornament looks like a four-sided pyramid.
方塊	fāng kuài	cube block; square chunk	我把起司切成小方塊。 Wǒ bǎ qǐsī qiē chéng xiǎo fāngkuài.	I cut the cheese into small cubes.
球狀	qiú zhuàng	spherical	這顆糖是球狀的。 Zhè kē táng shì qiúzhuàng de.	This candy is ball-shaped.
柱狀	zhù zhuàng	column-shaped	這根蠟燭是柱狀的。 Zhè gēn làzhú shì zhùzhuàng de.	This candle is column-shaped.
錐狀	zhuī zhuàng	conical	山峰有時候是錐狀。 Shānfēng yǒu shíhou shì zhuīzhuàng.	Mountain peaks can be cone-shaped.

Lines, angles, and parts of shapes

Useful for describing drawings and designs

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
線	xiàn	line	這條線很直。 Zhè tiáo xiàn hěn zhí.	This line is straight.
直線	zhí xiàn	straight line	請用尺畫直線。 Qǐng yòng chǐ huà zhíxiàn.	Please use a ruler to draw a straight line.
曲線	qū xiàn	curved line	這個標誌用曲線設計。 Zhège biāozhì yòng qūxiàn shèjì.	This logo uses curved lines.
弧線	hú xiàn	arc	彩虹像一條弧線。 Cǎihóng xiàng yì tiáo húxiàn.	A rainbow looks like an arc.
折線	zhé xiàn	polyline; broken line	地圖上的折線代表路線。 Dìtú shàng de zhéxiàn dàibiǎo lùxiàn.	The polyline on the map shows the route.
虛線	xū xiàn	dashed line	剪裁線常用虛線表示。 Jiǎncái xiàn cháng yòng xūxiàn biǎoshì.	Cutting lines are often shown with dashed lines.
平行線	píng xíng xiàn	parallel lines	鐵軌像兩條平行線。 Tiěguǐ xiàng liǎng tiáo píngxíngxiàn.	Railroad tracks look like two parallel lines.
垂直線	chuí zhí xiàn	perpendicular/vertical line	把這條線畫成垂直線。 Bǎ zhè tiáo xiàn huà chéng chuízhíxiàn.	Draw this line as a vertical/perpendicular line.
對角線	duì jiǎo xiàn	diagonal	正方形有兩條對角線。 Zhèngfāngxíng yǒu liǎng tiáo duìjiǎoxiàn.	A square has two diagonals.
邊	biān	side; edge	這個三角形有三條邊。 Zhège sānjiǎoxíng yǒu sān tiáo biān.	This triangle has three sides.
邊緣	biān yuán	edge; rim	請把邊緣磨圓一點。 Qǐng bǎ biānyuán mó yuán yìdiǎn.	Please round the edge a little.
角	jiǎo	corner; angle	每個角都不一樣。 Měi ge jiǎo dōu bù yíyàng.	Each corner/angle is different.
頂點	dǐng diǎn	vertex	三角形有三個頂點。 Sānjiǎoxíng yǒu sān ge dǐngdiǎn.	A triangle has three vertices.
中心	zhōng xīn	center	在中心畫一個點。 Zài zhōngxīn huà yí ge diǎn.	Draw a dot in the center.
半徑	bàn jìng	radius	這個圓的半徑是五公分。 Zhège yuán de bànjìng shì wǔ gōngfēn.	This circle’s radius is 5 cm.
直徑	zhí jìng	diameter	量一下直徑。 Liáng yíxià zhíjìng.	Measure the diameter.
周長	zhōu cháng	perimeter	我在算周長。 Wǒ zài suàn zhōucháng.	I’m calculating the perimeter.
面積	miàn jī	area	這塊地的面積很大。 Zhè kuài dì de miànjī hěn dà.	The area of this land is big.
體積	tǐ jī	volume	箱子的體積不夠。 Xiāngzi de tǐjī bùgòu.	The box’s volume/capacity isn’t enough.
角度	jiǎo dù	angle (degree)	把角度調小一點。 Bǎ jiǎodù tiáo xiǎo yìdiǎn.	Make the angle a bit smaller.
九十度	jiǔ shí dù	90 degrees	這裡是九十度。 Zhèlǐ shì jiǔshí dù.	It’s 90 degrees here.

Shape describers: smooth, sharp, regular, irregular

Adjectives you’ll use a lot

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
對稱	duì chèn	symmetrical	左右很對稱。 Zuǒyòu hěn duìchèn.	It’s symmetrical left-to-right.
不對稱	bù duì chèn	asymmetrical	這個設計故意不對稱。 Zhège shèjì gùyì bù duìchèn.	This design is intentionally asymmetrical.
規則	guī zé	regular; orderly	這是規則的六邊形。 Zhè shì guīzé de liùbiānxíng.	This is a regular hexagon.
不規則	bù guī zé	irregular	石頭的形狀不規則。 Shítou de xíngzhuàng bù guīzé.	A rock’s shape is irregular.
圓滑	yuán huá	smooth; rounded	邊角做得很圓滑。 Biānjiǎo zuò de hěn yuánhuá.	The corners are nicely rounded.
尖銳	jiān ruì	sharp (point/edge)	這個角太尖銳。 Zhège jiǎo tài jiānruì.	This corner is too sharp.
稜角	léng jiǎo	edges/corners (angularity)	金屬零件有明顯的稜角。 Jīnshǔ língjiàn yǒu míngxiǎn de léngjiǎo.	The metal part has obvious edges.
圓角	yuán jiǎo	rounded corner	手機殼通常是圓角。 Shǒujīkè tōngcháng shì yuánjiǎo.	Phone cases usually have rounded corners.
平坦	píng tǎn	flat	表面很平坦。 Biǎomiàn hěn píngtǎn.	The surface is flat.
彎曲	wān qū	bent; curved	這條線有點彎曲。 Zhè tiáo xiàn yǒudiǎn wānqū.	This line is a bit curved.
凹	āo	concave	中間是凹的。 Zhōngjiān shì āo de.	The middle is concave.
凸	tū	convex; sticking out	這個按鈕是凸出來的。 Zhège ànniǔ shì tū chūlái de.	This button sticks out.
中空	zhōng kōng	hollow	這根管子是中空的。 Zhè gēn guǎnzi shì zhōngkōng de.	This tube is hollow.
實心	shí xīn	solid (not hollow)	這個球是實心的。 Zhège qiú shì shíxīn de.	This ball is solid.
厚	hòu	thick	這張紙太厚。 Zhè zhāng zhǐ tài hòu.	This paper is too thick.
薄	báo	thin	我想要薄一點的。 Wǒ xiǎng yào báo yìdiǎn de.	I want a thinner one.
寬	kuān	wide	這條帶子很寬。 Zhè tiáo dàizi hěn kuān.	This strap is wide.
窄	zhǎi	narrow	走道很窄。 Zǒudào hěn zhǎi.	The hallway is narrow.
長	cháng	long	這個長方形很長。 Zhège chángfāngxíng hěn cháng.	This rectangle is long.
短	duǎn	short	這條線比較短。 Zhè tiáo xiàn bǐjiào duǎn.	This line is shorter.

Patterns and design words

Because shapes love outfits

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
圖案	tú àn	pattern; design	衣服上有可愛的圖案。 Yīfú shàng yǒu kě’ài de tú’àn.	There are cute patterns on the clothes.
花紋	huā wén	pattern; grain	木頭的花紋很漂亮。 Mùtou de huāwén hěn piàoliang.	The wood grain pattern is beautiful.
格子	gé zi	plaid; checkered	我喜歡格子襯衫。 Wǒ xǐhuān gézi chènshān.	I like plaid shirts.
條紋	tiáo wén	stripes	這件衣服是條紋的。 Zhè jiàn yīfú shì tiáowén de.	This clothing is striped.
波點	bō diǎn	polka dots	她戴波點髮箍。 Tā dài bōdiǎn fàgū.	She’s wearing a polka-dot headband.
斑點	bān diǎn	spots; speckles	這隻貓有斑點。 Zhè zhī māo yǒu bāndiǎn.	This cat has spots.
網格	wǎng gé	grid; mesh	我在紙上畫網格。 Wǒ zài zhǐ shàng huà wǎnggé.	I’m drawing a grid on the paper.
輪廓	lún kuò	outline; contour	先畫輪廓，再上色。 Xiān huà lúnkuò, zài shàngsè.	Draw the outline first, then add color.
外框	wài kuāng	outer frame/border	把外框畫粗一點。 Bǎ wàikuāng huà cū yìdiǎn.	Make the outer border a bit thicker.
內圈	nèi quān	inner ring	這個標誌有內圈和外圈。 Zhège biāozhì yǒu nèiquān hé wàiquān.	This logo has an inner ring and an outer ring.
留白	liú bái	white space (design)	設計要留白。 Shèjì yào liúbái.	Design needs white space.

Optional variants: handy pairs and measure words

Same idea, slightly different vibe

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
圓	yuán	circle; round	你會畫圓嗎？ Nǐ huì huà yuán ma?	Can you draw a circle?
正方	zhèng fāng	perfectly square (short form)	這塊地不是長方，是正方。 Zhè kuài dì bú shì chángfāng, shì zhèngfāng.	This plot isn’t rectangular; it’s square.
一條線	yì tiáo xiàn	one line (measure word 條)	請畫一條線。 Qǐng huà yì tiáo xiàn.	Please draw one line.
一張紙	yì zhāng zhǐ	a sheet of paper (measure word 張)	給我一張紙就好。 Gěi wǒ yì zhāng zhǐ jiù hǎo.	Just give me one sheet of paper.
一塊方塊	yí kuài fāng kuài	a block/chunk (measure word 塊)	我想要一塊方塊巧克力。 Wǒ xiǎng yào yí kuài fāngkuài qiǎokèlì.	I want a block of chocolate.