画家

• Reading: がか
• Romaji: gaka
• Kanji breakdown: 画 (ga) — painting, picture; 家 (ka) — specialist, house
• Pronunciation: /ɡa.ka/

Meaning

Painter; artist who creates paintings. A professional or dedicated visual artist.

A noun combining 画 (painting) with 家 (expert/specialist), following the common pattern for professional titles like 作家 (author) and 音楽家 (musician). Refers specifically to painters rather than artists in general. Used in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Examples

1. 祖父は若いころ画家を目指していた。 My grandfather aspired to be a painter when he was young.
2. この美術館には有名な画家の作品が並んでいる。 This museum displays works by famous painters.
3. 彼女はプロの画家として生活している。 She makes a living as a professional painter.

Usage Guide

Context: art, careers, culture

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 画 (painting, picture) rooted in Chinese 畫, and 家 (house/specialist). The suffix 家 marks someone as a specialist or professional in the given field, a pattern borrowed from classical Chinese.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal