Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Lesson 319. Today we're going to look at the
difference between figure and figurine. And this is one where students have
often asked me well what's the difference between these two ? And there
are a lot of similarities. There is some crossover between these two, but let's
let's look at the note. Let's start looking at some distinctions or let's
look at the definitions first this might help. First we look at figure. Figure
is a picture or model of a person or animal. All right. Let's look at figurine. A
figurine is a small decorative or ornamental model of a person often
carved for molded. All right. First thing I guess you should look at is you know
figures could also be pictures or paintings or photos. So figurines cannot
be that. A figurine actually has to be a physical object you know like a
three-dimensional object. Okay. also you probably you're looking at
these two words from different perspectives. Remember a figure is often
a representation of something or somebody. So it's a representation of a
person or an animal. Remember there are other ... We have a lot
of other meanings to figure too. That also mean like a representation. Like we
could say a father figure. You know, That's, that's a person that represents a
father who's not the real father. Like sometimes maybe if the father died or
something and it's an uncle he could be a father figure. Or remember we often use
it as like somebody who's important in some way. We often say like a political
figure or religious figure. So any politician could be a political figure.
And you know somebody like the Pope or the Dalai Lama or Mother Teresa could have
been considered to be like a religious figure. So you're looking at it from that
different point of view. Again from a representation of somebody or something.
Now a figurine, a figurine needs to be an actual object you're looking at as
you're looking at it as an object that is decorative or ornamental.
It's meant to be pretty it's meant to be attractive. It's meant to be you know,
something that you could you know, have and look at and admire or put on a shelf
or something like that. So you're looking at them from different perspectives. So
it's good to note that right away. Let's continue. Now here we also add in action
figure because you know this, this kind of comes up. But an action figure I
didn't put it in the title here because it's really it's just another type of a
figure. So let's look at action figure. An action figure is a small figure of a
character from a movie , TV program cartoon, comic book , video game, etc.
usually designed especially to be a toy or possibly to be collected. It's also a
good word too because you know, you know there's probably some parents they may
not want to say that kid is playing with a doll you could say they're playing
with an action figure. So they're especially made for boys you know,
especially superheroes or soldiers or something like this. But it is a broader
scope. It could be you know, it could be like a girl. Like it like a Britney
Spears. If they made a doll of Britney Spears I think they have. That's
considered to be an action figure too. That would be of like a famous star. So it
could be. It's often somebody that's a character or a real person or again
somebody from you know the movies cartoons, comic books. So definitely
anything superheroes or a movie character I think when you know, I think
I used to have one of like Arnold Swartzneggar from the Terminator or
something like that. That's definitely an action figure. Okay, good.
So let's continue here. All right. When we are talking about a small model because
that's where they are similar. Obviously again you know if it's a picture of
painting that that can only be a figure. So it's when it's a smaller model that's
when there's more confusion of whether it should be called a figure or figurine.
So when we are talking about a small model some people think
the words are interchangeable. mmm All right. Let's continue. Not exactly. There
are situations we are much more likely to use one instead of the other. So let's
continue. Now since figure is used more as a representation of a
person or animal. Technically speaking, most figurines could be called figures.
Now that doesn't mean they will be. A lot of times we especially want to use the
word figurine in certain situations so we're probably more likely to use
figurine. But would it be wrong to say it's also a figure. Well if it's a
representation of it technically you could argue that you could call it a
figure in this situation, in this way. All right. Let's continue. Now a figure
could be almost any size. Yeah. It doesn't... So, so it could be ... small like a figurine,
or it could be you know, it could be a life-size. You know, a big statue could
like that could be a figure of Julius Caesar for example. So
or I think they even described when I was looking at this ... effigies. You know
like who in political protest when they make a like a dummy look like , like a
like a president or some political figure and they beat it up. I mean that
could be a figure too. All right. So, so technically. Yeah. So a figure could be
any size, but figurines tend to be small. Yeah. So figurine you can't
have anything really large. Life-size you can't call it a figurine. They tend ... you
can have some that's really small like this. Or it could be larger like
about that size maybe. Maybe up to about that size. But like they say
especially, especially small enough to sit on a shelf. So if it gets too big
for a shelf we're probably not going to call it a figurine anymore. So this kind
of a limit to the size of a figurine. So they tend to be on the small side. On the
small side. now action figures because they're little they're toys they could
be smaller. But you know they could be as big as figurines. I've
seen action figures that would be larger. I've seen action figures that could be
you know a couple, a couple of feet. You know , so they could be large some of them
could be larger than your average figurine. Okay let's continue. Figurines
are made for the purpose of looking attractive as a decoration. So again, it's
important to stress that point . Figurines are also often made of higher quality
material. Yeah sometimes. So like we often hear about a crystal figurine or fine
china. Then you're more likely to use the word figurine. So the more valuable it is,
or the more valuable the material is you know , to to be put on a shelf to look you
know high-class and pretty, the more likely you're going to use the word
figurine instead of figure. All right. So just like I said either crystal or fine
china or there could be some others. Therefore you are less likely to play
with a figurine. Yeah. Because it's more breakable figurines usually don't have
moveable parts. Sure. Yeah if you gave a child a figurine to play would they drop
it once it'd probably be broken. So like an action figure...
No. They're meant for this. So if you're comparing them they're more durable.
Because action figures you know, you may need to be played with at least a
certain amount of time. You don't want it to break on the first day. Okay. Let's
continue. Yeah. Again. All action figures are definitely figures. Okay. Yeah we
don't usually call action figures figurines. That feels awkward.
They are purposely made to be played with. Yes. So they tend to be more
durable and usually have movable parts. You know, action figures have definitely
have moveable parts. Okay. That pretty much covers it. Anything could be collected so
even though most action are made to be played with you
know, there's a lot of ones, there's a lot of people that like to collect a lot of
these action figures today because they think they're collectible they can go up
in value. But they still could be played with. Okay. All right. I think that pretty
much that pretty much covers it. I hope you have a clearer feeling or
understanding of when you would use one for the other. So , again remember
figurines are kind of limited in size they tend to be small. They are usually small
enough for a shelf. Okay and tend to be better quality and they're just ...They're
made for decoration. A figure is a much broader scope, especially you're looking
at it as being a representation. Okay. That much says it all. Okay. Thank you
for your time. I hope it was informative. Okay. Bye-bye