字画 (zì huà) — calligraphy and painting (as art or artworks); (in a technical sense) strokes of a Chinese character

Definition

字画 (zìhuà) is a set term for calligraphy and painting as paired art forms, or the artworks themselves. Measure with 幅; it does not refer to the individual strokes of a character.

noun
calligraphy and painting (as art or artworks)(in a technical sense) strokes of a Chinese character
Measure word · 幅

Examples

  • 字画。
    Tā shōu cáng le hěn duō gǔ dài zì huà.
    He collects many ancient calligraphy and paintings.
  • 字画。
    Zhè fú zì huà shì míng dài dà shī de zuò pǐn.
    This piece of calligraphy and painting is a Ming dynasty master's work.
  • 字画。
    Pāi mài huì shàng nà fú zì huà mài chū le tiān jià.
    That calligraphy and painting at the auction sold for a sky-high price.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

字zìcharacter/calligraphy
画huàpainting

The '字' characters and '画' paintings stand side by side as calligraphy and painting.

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →

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 →

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