繪

By extension: to draw, to depict, to illustrate, to portray vividly (in words or art).

Originally referred to embroidered patterns woven with colored threads, and later came to signify drawing and painting in general.

Phono-semantic compound:

糸 (가는실 멱) — semantic component, denotes thread, weaving, or textiles.

會 (모을 회) — phonetic component, provides the sound huì / hoe and conveys the sense of “to gather, to combine.”

Thus 糸 + 會 → 繪 — “to gather threads together,” originally meaning to weave colored threads into patterns; by semantic extension, “to compose or depict an image.”

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「繪，畫也。从糸，會聲。」

“繪 means to paint or depict; composed of 糸 and phonetic 會.”

The earliest meaning therefore refers to ornamented weaving, before broadening to include artistic representation by color or line.

繪畫 (회화) — painting; the art of drawing

油繪 (유회) — oil painting

水彩繪 (수채회) — watercolor painting

繪圖 (회도) — illustration; drawing; diagram

描繪 (묘회) — to depict; to portray

彩繪 (채회) — polychrome painting; colored decoration (often on architecture or ceramics)

丹靑彩繪 (단청채회) — traditional Korean multicolored painting on wooden buildings

In traditional Chinese and Korean culture, 繪 encompasses both fine art (painting, illustration) and decorative crafts (textile or architectural ornamentation).

Book of Han (漢書 · 藝文志):

「畫繪之事，成於文章之外。」

“The art of painting and depiction is accomplished beyond the art of writing.” — distinguishing visual art from literary composition.

Zhuangzi (莊子 · 天運):

「丹青之繪，可以觀也。」

“The painted forms in red and blue may be viewed,” referring to the aesthetic delight in visual representation.

In both classical and modern usage, it signifies painting, illustration, and artistic representation, as reflected in words such as 繪畫 (“painting”) and 彩繪 (“color decoration”).

The character thus unites the concepts of craftsmanship and creativity — weaving threads into images, or ideas into art.