hình

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 形.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [hïŋ˨˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [hɨn˦˩]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [hɨn˨˩]

Noun

(classifier tấm, bức) hình

1. image
2. a figure or a silhouette
3. (Southern Vietnam) a photo; a picture
4. (geometry) a shape
5. Clipping of hình học (“geometry”).

Usage notes

• In 2D geometry, hình refers to "shape". In 3D geometry, it also refers to the surfaces of solids, especially when calculating their surface areas rather than their volumes whereby khối (“solid”) is used. For example, you calculate the surface area of a hình cầu, but you calculate the volume of a khối cầu, even though both of those terms can simply be translated as "sphere".

Derived terms

• hình chữ nhật
• hình học (“geometry”)
• hình vị (“syllable”)
• truyền hình (“television”)