动画片

• Pinyin: dòng huà piàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 动 = 云 (phonetic, simplified) + 力 (power); 画 = simplified, depicting a framed picture; 片 = half of a split piece, extended to mean a film

Meaning

Animated film; cartoon. A film or show created using animation techniques.

Covers all forms of animation, from children's cartoons to full-length animated features. Chinese animation is called 国漫 in casual speech. Japanese animation is commonly called 日漫 or 动漫. The term 动画片 itself is neutral and can refer to animation from any country.

Examples

1. 小时候我最喜欢看动画片了。 When I was little, watching cartoons was my favourite thing.
2. 这部动画片的画面非常漂亮。 The visuals in this animated film are really beautiful.
3. 弟弟每天放学回家就看动画片。 My little brother watches cartoons every day after coming home from school.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你小时候最喜欢看什么动画片？(What cartoons did you like watching most as a child?)
• 最近有一部动画片很受欢迎。(There's an animated film that's been very popular recently.)

Don't Say

• 对动漫爱好者说'动画片是给小孩看的' (Don't tell anime fans that cartoons are just for children — many animated works target adult audiences and contain sophisticated storytelling)

Origin & History

Compound of 动画 (animation, literally 'moving pictures') and 片 (film). Describes a film made of animated images.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal