画

• Pinyin: huà
• Hanzi breakdown: 画 — simplified form of 畫; originally depicted a hand drawing boundaries or patterns.

Meaning

To draw; to paint. The act of creating pictures or artwork by hand.

As a verb, means to draw or paint. Also functions as a noun meaning a painting or drawing (一幅画). Very common in both everyday and artistic contexts.

Examples

1. 他在纸上画了一只猫。 He drew a cat on the paper.
2. 你会画画吗？ Can you draw?
3. 妹妹喜欢用彩色笔画花。 My little sister likes to draw flowers with colored pens.

Usage Guide

Context: art, hobbies, school

Tone: creative

Do Say

• 我想学画画。(I want to learn to draw.)
• 你画得真好！(You draw really well!)

Don't Say

• 不要把写字说成画字 (Don't say 画字 for writing characters — use 写字; 画 is for drawing pictures, 写 is for writing text)

Origin & History

Originally a pictograph depicting a hand drawing lines. The character has been used for both the act of drawing and the resulting artwork since ancient times.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal