絵画

• Reading: かいが
• Romaji: kaiga
• Kanji breakdown: 絵 (kai) — picture, painting; 画 (ga) — picture, drawing
• Pronunciation: /ka.i.ɡa/

Meaning

Painting; picture. A work of visual art created with paint or similar media, typically on canvas or paper.

A noun that is more formal and specific than 絵 (picture/drawing). 絵画 specifically refers to paintings as fine art, whether oil paintings, watercolours, or other traditional media. Often used in museums, galleries, and art education. Common collocations include 絵画展 (painting exhibition) and 西洋絵画 (Western painting).

Examples

1. 美術館で西洋の絵画を鑑賞した。 I viewed Western paintings at the art museum.
2. 祖母は趣味で絵画を描いている。 My grandmother paints as a hobby.
3. この絵画は百年以上前に描かれたものだ。 This painting was created over a hundred years ago.

Usage Guide

Context: art, museums, education

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 絵 (picture, painting) and 画 (picture, drawing, stroke). Both characters relate to visual depiction, with the combination specifically denoting fine art painting.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal