划

• Pinyin: huá
• Hanzi breakdown: 划 = 戈 (weapon) + 刂 (knife) — a blade making a cutting or scraping motion

Meaning

To row; to paddle; to scratch; to draw a line. Describes the action of moving an oar through water or making a mark on a surface.

Has several related meanings: (1) to row a boat — 划船 (row a boat); (2) to scratch or scrape — 划伤 (scratch/wound); (3) to draw a line or mark — 划线 (draw a line); (4) to swipe — 划手机屏幕 (swipe the phone screen). Note: when meaning 'to plan,' it is pronounced huà (fourth tone) as in 计划.

Examples

1. 周末我们一起去湖上划船吧。 Let's go rowing on the lake this weekend.
2. 小心别被玻璃划伤了手。 Be careful not to scratch your hand on the glass.
3. 请在重要的句子下面划一条线。 Please draw a line under the important sentences.

Usage Guide

Context: outdoor activities, everyday, writing

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 我们去划船吧。(Let's go rowing.)
• 用笔在这里划一条线。(Draw a line here with a pen.)

Don't Say

• 我划了一个计划 (When meaning 'to plan,' use fourth tone huà and say 制定计划; 划 with second tone huá means to row or scratch)

Origin & History

Originally depicted a knife (刂) making a cut or mark, later extended to include the rowing motion of cutting through water.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal