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contour / shape ("gaikei" in Japanese)

04:42 Oct 22, 2009

This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Automotive / Cars & Trucks

Japanese term or phrase: contour / shape ("gaikei" in Japanese)

"(Section) has redesigned holder on Jig XX to more closely match contour of local part."

The sentence above is talking about car parts manufacturing. I always wonder if the Japanese word "gaikei (direct translation is "outer shape") should be "contour" or "shape".
(Sorry, I can't type Chinese characters for some reason. They get all garbled.)

Do those two words mean the same?
Or if not, what's the difference?

I'd appreciate if anyone could tell me.

Thanks in advance.

deaq KudoZ activity Questions: 3 (none open) (1 without valid answers) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 0 Japan
Local time: 00:26

Summary of answers provided
4	形状	moru531
3	coutour (3-dimensional)	Yumico Tanaka

Summary of reference entries provided

ＦYR

cinefil

Answers

47 mins confidence:

coutour (3-dimensional)

Explanation:
Generally speaking, contour seems to be often used for things in 3 dimensions and gaikei in two dimensions, although not exclusively.

Yumico Tanaka
Australia
Local time: 01:26
Native speaker of:

Japanese
PRO pts in category: 4

1 hr confidence:

形状

Explanation:
形状 is the word I would use to mean physical 'contour'. It can mean 3D shapes.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2009-10-22 08:19:04 GMT)
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My understanding of the word 外形 is 'form/shape that's seen from outside.' I feel that the word 外形 has more emphasis on the 'outside' part compared with the English word 'contour' or 'shape.' Also it could imply how something LOOKS outside, something close to the English word 'appearance' with the meaning of 'shape' added to it.

moru531
New Zealand
Native speaker of:

Japanese

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you for your response, yumico & moru. But... I'm sorry, maybe I didn't make myself clear. I'd like to know if the English words "contour" and "shape" mean the same when it comes to the Japanese word "gaikei". I think "gaikei" can be used for either 2-D or 3D. But when you're talking about "gaikei" of a car part (3-D), should it be, in English, "contour" or "shape", or doesn't matter (interchangeble)?

Reference comments

7 hrs

Reference: ＦYR

Reference information:
pls see 外形
http://homepage3.nifty.com/tongermark/bhv2k.htm

cinefil
Japan
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Japanese
PRO pts in category: 104

Note to reference poster

Asker: Thank you for the information. I didn't know this web site existed, so it'll be a big help for my work. According to the web site, "外形", I understand, is more like to be "contour" and "shape" is "形状". I think I'm getting closer to what I wanted to know. Thanks again.

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