格好

かっこう · kakkou · JLPT N4 · noun

appearance

👔 格好 = 格 (standard, pattern) + 好 (good): a good pattern is a fine form

格 means standard or framework, 好 means good or pleasing. Together: how well something fits the proper form, hence appearance or shape. The same word gives かっこいい (kakkoii), cool or good-looking, literally good form.

格 — wood 木 + 各 (each, phonetic)
格 is a semantic-phonetic compound: 木 (wood) gives the meaning, originally referring to a wooden frame, lattice, or crossbar, while 各 supplies the sound. From 'frame/grid' the meaning extended to 'pattern, standard, style' and the modern senses of 'square (in a grid)' and 'character/disposition'.

好 — woman 女 + child 子
好 is an associative compound showing a woman 女 beside a child 子, depicting a mother with her baby. From this image of maternal affection it came to mean 'good, fine, pleasing.' The reading hǎo means 'good'; read hào it means 'to like.'

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