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无形 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
无形wúxíngincorporealHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #13890, Very Hard
无形wúxíngvirtualHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #13890, Very Hard
无形wúxíngformlessHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #13890, Very Hard
无形wúxínginvisible (assets)HSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #13890, Very Hard
无形wúxíngintangibleHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #13890, Very Hard
wúxíng(wu2xing2) T2
  1. 1incorporeal
  2. 2virtual
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

无形(無形)wúxíng(wu2xing2)

无形 (wú xíng) refers to something that is intangible or incorporeal, meaning it cannot be seen or physically touched. This term is often used in contexts such as discussing abstract concepts, virtual assets, or qualities that do not have a physical presence, such as emotions or ideas.

Strokes11Frequency#13890DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of the intangible is prevalent in discussions about spirituality and philosophy, particularly in Daoism, which often emphasizes the importance of the unseen and the imperceptible aspects of life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a ghost that is invisible (无形) and floats through walls. The character 无 means 'not' or 'without,' and 形 means 'form' or 'shape.' Together they depict the absence of a physical form, helping you remember that 无形 refers to the intangible.

Meanings of 无形

wúxíng(wu2xing2)
1incorporeal
2virtual
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 无形

无形Simplified
無形Traditional
11Strokes
—Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

Podcast: 无形

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Podcast: 无形

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AI Study Notes for 无形

Quick Contrast

无形 (wú xíng) vs 形 (xíng) — use 无形 for intangible concepts, while 形 refers to physical form or shape.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 无形 with similar terms like 形象 (xíngxiàng), which refers to something that has form or shape. This term is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about economics, art, or philosophy.

HSK Study Tips

Although 无形 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it builds on the HSK 2 character 无 and the HSK 3 character 形. Focus on how these characters combine to express the concept of 'absence of form' and practice using them in sentences that involve abstract ideas.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 无形 in contexts where a physical form is implied, such as saying '无形的书' (wú xíng de shū) which incorrectly suggests an intangible book. The correct term would be '无形的概念' (wú xíng de gài niàn) meaning 'intangible concept.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 无形

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Component Characters

无wú-less
HSK 44 strokes无
View full entry
形xíngto appear
HSK 67 strokes彡
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How to say incorporeal in Chinese

“incorporeal” in Chinese is无形wúxíng

无形 (wú xíng) refers to something that is intangible or incorporeal, meaning it cannot be seen or physically touched. This term is often used in contexts such as discussing abstract concepts, virtual assets, or qualities that do not have a physical presence, such as emotions or ideas.

When to use 无形

Be cautious not to confuse 无形 with similar terms like 形象 (xíngxiàng), which refers to something that has form or shape. This term is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about economics, art, or philosophy.

无形 or something close to it

无形 (wú xíng) vs 形 (xíng) — use 无形 for intangible concepts, while 形 refers to physical form or shape.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 无形 in contexts where a physical form is implied, such as saying '无形的书' (wú xíng de shū) which incorrectly suggests an intangible book. The correct term would be '无形的概念' (wú xíng de gài niàn) meaning 'intangible concept.'

Write 无形

无
形

Practice writing 无形 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 无形

Yes, it can be used to describe abstract ideas, such as emotions or concepts that are difficult to quantify.

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