动画

• Pinyin: dòng huà
• Hanzi breakdown: 动 = 云 (cloud) + 力 (strength) — movement; 画 = originally depicted a hand holding a brush drawing boundaries — picture, to draw

Meaning

Animation; animated film/series. The art form of creating moving images through rapid display of sequential drawings or computer graphics.

Covers both traditional hand-drawn animation and modern computer-generated imagery. 动画片 specifically refers to animated films or episodes. Chinese animation (国漫) has seen significant growth, while Japanese animation (日本动画/动漫) remains hugely popular in China.

Examples

1. 这部动画电影的特效做得太逼真了，感觉角色就在眼前。 The special effects in this animated movie are so realistic; the characters feel like they're right in front of you.
2. 小时候最喜欢看的动画片是大闹天宫和黑猫警长。 My favorite cartoons as a kid were Havoc in Heaven and Black Cat Detective.
3. 国产动画这几年进步很大，不少作品在国际上也获了奖。 Chinese animation has made great progress in recent years, with many works winning international awards.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, art, media

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 这个动画的画风很独特，我一眼就认出来了。(The art style of this animation is very unique; I recognized it immediately.)
• 他在一家动画公司做原画师。(He works as a key animator at an animation company.)

Don't Say

• 把所有卡通都叫动画 (动画 specifically means animation as a medium; live-action children's shows are not 动画)

Origin & History

Compound of 动 (to move) + 画 (picture, drawing). A translation concept that emerged in the early 20th century when animation films were introduced to China.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal