形容 (xíng róng) is primarily a verb meaning 'to describe'—especially to express qualities, appearance, or characteristics of someone or something using words. The character 形 means 'form' or 'shape', and 容 means 'to hold' or 'to contain'; together, they suggest 'containing or conveying form', i.e., putting shape or essence into words. It's commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, especially in formal or literary contexts, when giving vivid, nuanced descriptions.

This word often appears after subjects like people, objects, or abstract concepts, and frequently pairs with adjectives or descriptive phrases introduced by 的 or through complement structures (e.g., 形容得十分生动). While it can occasionally function as a noun meaning 'description' (e.g., 他的形容很准确), its verbal use is far more frequent and natural in everyday communication.