Japanese word

絵

Pronunciation

Romajie

Meaning

  • nounpicture

Example

これは私の絵です。ko re wa watashi no e de su

This is my picture.

Illustration for 絵 (picture)

More examples

壁に絵を飾ります。kabe ni e o kaza ri ma su

I put a picture on the wall.

子どもたちは教室の壁に絵を飾っています。ko do mo ta chi wa kyō shitsu no kabe ni e o kaza tte i ma su

The children are displaying pictures on the classroom wall.

Core concept

Refers to a visual work made by putting lines, shapes, or colors on a surface.

Common phrases

  • 絵を描くe o ega ku

    draw a picture

  • 絵を見るe o mi ru

    look at a picture

  • 絵を飾るe o kaza ru

    display a picture

Similar words

絵画kaiga: A visual artwork created by drawing or painting on paper, canvas, or another surface.
イラストirasuto: A picture created to explain, decorate, or accompany written content.
図zu: A visual form used to show information, structure, or connections.

Definition in Japanese

線や色などを用いて、物の形や様子を表したもの。sen ya iro na do o mochi i te mono no katachi ya yō su o arawa shi ta mo no

Word origin

絵 (e, "picture") is the Japanese simplified form of 繪 (e, "picture"), which originally referred to a picture or design, while e is its Sino-Japanese reading.

Usage tips

  • English picture can include a photograph, but Japanese 絵 (e) usually means a drawing or painting, while 写真 (shashin) normally names a photograph.

Other meanings

  • drawingnoun
  • paintingnoun

Word lists with this word