絵を描いています
e o kaite imasu
The English phrase 'I am drawing' is translated into Japanese as 絵を描いています (e o kaite imasu).
This phrase is used to say that you are currently creating a picture with a pen or pencil. Because the Japanese verb kaku can mean both 'to draw' and 'to write,' including e (picture) is necessary to specify that you are creating an image rather than writing characters.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of e (picture), o (the object marker), kaite (the te-form of the verb 'to draw') and imasu (the auxiliary verb indicating an ongoing action).
How do you pronounce it?
e o kaite imasu
Did you know?
- The verb kaku can also mean 'to scratch' an itch, meaning that without the word e for 'picture', you might be telling someone you are scratching yourself.
- Although kaku is used for both drawing and writing, they are written with different kanji characters. Drawing a picture uses 描く while writing a letter uses 書く.
- In Japanese, the word for picture e is a homophone for the word for 'painting' e. Because of this, 絵を描いています can mean both 'I am drawing' and 'I am painting'.
Examples in context
- 私は公園で絵を描いています。Watashi wa kouen de e o kaite imasu.I am drawing a picture in the park.
- ノートに絵を描いています。No-to ni e o kaite imasu.I am drawing a picture in a notebook.
Example conversation
Kenta visits Misaki's house.
- 健太 Kenta美咲さん、何をしていますか。Misaki-san, nani o shite imasu ka.Misaki, what are you doing?
- 美咲 Misakiいま、絵を描いています。Ima, e o kaite imasu.I am drawing a picture right now.
- 健太 Kentaすごいですね。見せてください。Sugoi desu ne. Misete kudasai.That's amazing. Please show me.
- 美咲 Misakiまだ途中ですよ。Mada tochu desu yo.It's still unfinished.
