畵
- painting;
- drawing;
- picture;
- to draw;
- to paint;
Etymology
A pictograph.
In oracle bone script (甲骨文), 畫 depicted a hand holding a brush (聿) drawing lines or shapes.
In bronze inscriptions (金文) and seal script (小篆), the lower part gradually transformed into a shape resembling 田 (field) surrounded by boundary lines.
Important note:
The modern components 田 and 一 in regular script (楷書) do not reflect the original meaning. They are the result of graphical evolution rather than semantic composition.
The core image remains "drawing lines to define or enclose space."
畫 is originally a polyphonic character:
획 (entering tone, 入聲) — when used as a verb (to draw, to mark, to divide, to plan).
화 (departing tone, 去聲) — when used as a noun (picture; painting; plan).
As the noun sense became dominant, the separate character 劃 was created to clarify the verbal meaning “to carve / to mark with lines.”
Semantic development:
- drawing lines — marking or dividing space;
- painting / image — representation through drawing;
- planning — outlining ideas metaphorically;
- division — demarcation with boundaries.
Thus, 畫 bridges: physical line → visual image → conceptual planning.
Usage in Korean
Art:
회화 (繪畫) — painting
화가 (畫家) — painter
풍경화 (風景畫) — landscape painting
Division / marking:
구획 (區劃) — division; demarcation
획선 (劃線) — drawn line
Planning:
계획 (計畫) — plan
기획 (企畫) — project planning
Additional notes
畫 emphasizes defining space by drawing boundaries. The essence of 畫 is visual structuring.
Related characters:
寫 — to write; to depict
描 — to draw; sketch
圖 — diagram; map
劃 — to carve; to mark
Among these, 畫 unites: artistic representation + structural division + conceptual planning.
Classical / literary usage:
畫龍點睛 — “To paint the dragon and dot the eyes” (add the finishing touch)
指畫江山 — “To point and plan the realm”
Alternative forms
Traditional — 畫 (U+756B)
Simplified / Japanese — 画 (U+753B)
Korean variant — 畵 (U+7575), remains in limited use (e.g., in formal or exam contexts).
The simplified and Japanese forms share U+753B, but render differently depending on font and language setting.
Similar shape characters
晝 — daytime (visually similar)
- 中土山田 (LGUW)
- ⿳ 𦘒 画
