Learn a Chinese Character - 画 (Huà - Draw; paint; picture; stroke (in painting); design; plan; mark; delineate; describe)

1. Character Basics

Radical: 田 (tián) - Field radical

Stroke Count: 8 strokes

Stroke Order:

Pinyin: Huà (Fourth tone)

Basic Meaning: Draw; paint; picture; stroke (in painting)

Extended Meanings: Design; plan; mark; delineate; describe

Additional Notes: This character is closely related to art and visual representation in Chinese culture

画画 (huà huà): Draw; paint

Example: 我喜欢画画作为爱好。(Wǒ xǐhuan huàhuà zuòwéi àihào.) - I like drawing as a hobby.
图画 (tú huà): Picture; painting

Example: 墙上挂着一幅美丽的图画。(Qiáng shàng guàzhe yī fú měilì de túhuà.) - A beautiful picture hangs on the wall.
山水画 (shān shuǐ huà): Landscape painting

Example: 中国山水画有着悠久的历史。(Zhōngguó shānshuǐhuà yǒuzhe yōujiǔ de lìshǐ.) - Chinese landscape painting has a long history.
笔画 (bǐ huà): Stroke (of a Chinese character)

Example: 这个汉字有八笔画。(Zhège hànzì yǒu bā bǐhuà.) - This Chinese character has eight strokes.
漫画 (màn huà): Cartoon; comic

Example: 孩子们喜欢看漫画书。(Háizimen xǐhuan kàn mànhuà shū.) - Children like reading comic books.

Part of Speech: Verb; Noun

Common Usage: As a verb meaning "to draw" or "to paint"; as a noun meaning "a picture" or "a painting"

Common Structures:

Usage Notes: When used as a verb, it often takes an object to indicate what is being drawn or painted

Traditional Chinese Painting: 画 is central to Chinese art traditions, including ink wash painting
Calligraphy Connection: There's a close relationship between Chinese painting and calligraphy
Symbolism in Art: Traditional Chinese paintings often carry deep cultural and philosophical meanings
Modern Art: The character remains important in contemporary Chinese art and design

Sentence 1: 他正在画一只猫。(Tā zhèngzài huà yī zhī māo.) - He is drawing a cat.

Sentence 2: 这幅画很美。(Zhè fú huà hěn měi.) - This painting is very beautiful.

Sentence 3: 她画得非常好。(Tā huà de fēicháng hǎo.) - She draws very well.

Break it down: The character consists of 一 (yī, one), 田 (tián, field), and 凵 (kǎn, receptacle) - imagine drawing in a field
Sound association: "Huà" sounds similar to "art" in English
Visual memory: Think of a paintbrush making strokes on paper
Word association: Connect it with common words like 画画 (draw) and 图画 (picture)
Cultural connection: Associate it with traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy