无形或未成形质，一般以此指称有形事物的依据。“形而上”这一术语出自《周易•系辞上》，与“形而下”相对而言。“形”指形体，“形而上”是指在形体出现之前，也即无形者。此无形者被称为“道”。
The term means what is formless or has no formal substance yet. It generally indicates the basis of physical things. The term "what is above form" comes from "The Book of Changes" and is used as the opposite of "what is under form." "Form" indicates physical shape. "What is above form" refers to the state before a physical shape emerges, namely, formlessness. That which is formless is called "Dao."
◎形而上者谓之道，形而下者谓之器。（《周易•系辞上》）
未成形质者称为“道”，已成形质者称为“器”。
What is above form is called Dao, and what is under form is called "an object." (The Book of Changes)
