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刻画 (kè huà) — to portray, to depict (in vivid detail)

Definition

刻画 focuses on bringing out fine details of a character or scene through vivid portrayal. Unlike 描写 (general describing) or 描绘 (broader depiction in words/pictures), it emphasizes sharpness and depth.

verb
to portrayto depict (in vivid detail)

Examples

  • 刻画。
    Zhè wèi zuò jiā shàn yú kè huà rén wù de fù zá xīn lǐ.
    This writer is skilled at portraying the complex psychology of characters.
  • 刻画。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng zhēn shí dì kè huà le pǔ tōng rén de shēng huó.
    This movie realistically portrays the lives of ordinary people.
  • 刻画。
    Huà jiā yòng jiǎn dān de xiàn tiáo kè huà chū rén wù de tè diǎn.
    The painter uses simple lines to portray the character's features.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

刻kècarve
画huàdraw

刻 and 画 are parallel acts of carving and drawing, together meaning vivid depiction.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刂Written in full as刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
亥
亥hài刻kè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刻 is made of 刂, a form of 刀 (knife), and 亥, which gives the sound.

Open 刻 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 畫; 画 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
聿聿yùbrush
Sound part声符shēngfú
規
規guī畫huà
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 畫 pairs 聿, a brush, with 規 for its sound. The simplified 画 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the old parts.

Open 画 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Art & Fine Arts

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