圖例 / 图例
túlì
In Chinese, the term for a legend (the key to symbols and color codes on a map) is 圖例 / 图例 (túlì). Wiktionary also lists 說明 / 说明 (shuōmíng).
Meaning: key to the symbols and color codes on a map (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 圖例 / 图例 | túlì |
| 說明 / 说明 | shuōmíng |
The term 圖例 / 图例 is used specifically to refer to the formal legend found in cartography or technical diagrams.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 圖例 / 图例 is composed of 圖 (map/drawing) and 例 (example/pattern), literally meaning 'map examples'.
Which one should you use?
While 圖例 / 图例 specifically refers to the technical key on a map, 說明 / 说明 is a more general term for an explanation or description of symbols.
How do you pronounce it?
túlì
Did you know?
- While 圖例 / 图例 refers to a map key, if you want to speak about a 'legend' in the sense of a mythical hero or a famous person, you must use 傳說 / 传说 instead.
- The character 例 in 圖例 / 图例 also appears in the word for 'exception' 例外, creating a linguistic irony where the word for 'standard example' is the root of the word for 'exception'.
- In traditional Chinese calligraphy and art, a 'legend' or written explanation of a painting is often called a 題跋 / 题跋, a specialized term that is much more specific than the general 'legend' used for maps.
Examples in context
- 他是一个音乐界的传奇。He is a legend in the music industry.
- 乔丹是篮球传奇。Michael Jordan is a basketball legend.
- 他是画坛的大神之一。He is one of the art world's legends.
- 我真的佩服那位音乐界的大神。I truly admire the music industry legend.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “legend” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
