形式，样式 and 方式 - appearance, style, form, shape...?

Question

In terms of the appearance of something, there a lot of HSK5 words that are very similar. Here are four and the definitions I've found thus far.

• 表面 - 1. surface (tangible, 方面 is intangible), 2. outside, appearance (表现 is more behavioural, subjective, the way something comes across)

• 形式 - n. outer appearance, form, shape

• 样式 - n. type, style

• 方式 - n. way, manner, style, pattern

Is there a clear way to distinguish between 形式，样式 and 方式? They all seem very close to each other and am not sure how to separate their usages.

Answer 1

According to dictionary owned by Ministry of Education in Taiwan.

形式 can mean:

文學作品上指作品外在的體式。

(Format of literature.)

抽象或具體的事物，其形態的直接表現或組成。

(The way of how abstract or concrete things show directly or constitution.)

樣式 can mean:

樣子、形式。

(How does things look like, The way it show directly or constitution.)

方式 can mean:

說話或做事時所採行的一定方法、模式。

(The way of how to do things.)