画家
gaka[ɡa̠ka̠]
The Japanese word for painter is 画家 (gaka). Wiktionary also lists 絵描き (ekaki).
Meaning: artist (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 画家 | gaka | [ɡa̠ka̠] (narrow) |
| 絵描き | ekaki | [e̞ka̠kʲi] (narrow) |
Both 画家 and 絵描き are used to refer to a painter, but they describe different types of artists and levels of professionalism.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 画家 is composed of 画 (picture/painting) and 家 (specialist/professional/house), where the second kanji denotes a professional in a specific field. The term 絵描き is composed of 絵 (picture) and 描き (drawing/painting), literally meaning 'picture drawer'.
Which one should you use?
画家 is used for professional fine artists. In contrast, 絵描き is a more casual or descriptive term for someone who paints, often used for hobbyists or in a less formal context than 画家.
How do you pronounce it?
gaka
Did you know?
- In Japan, the term 画家 is traditionally reserved for those who create 'fine art'. A person who paints walls or houses is not called a 画家, but a 塗装工 (tosō-kō).
- The word 絵描き is derived from the verb 描く, which can mean both 'to draw' and 'to paint'. In Japanese, there is no single, distinct verb that separates the act of sketching from the act of painting.
- While 画家 is the standard term, some artists refer to themselves as 絵描き to appear humble. Using 画家 for oneself can sometimes sound overly pretentious in certain social circles.
Examples in context
- 彼は画家だ。He is a painter.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a painter using 画家.Tatoeba #109105 by bunbuku, translation #294585 by CK
- 彼は小説家兼画家である。He is a novelist and a painter.This sentence shows how to combine the title of painter with another profession using 画家.Tatoeba #104128 by tommy__san, translation #12351714 by CK
- 彼女は偉大な画家になった。She became a famous painter.This sentence describes someone's achievement in becoming a painter using 画家.Tatoeba #91207 by tommy__san, translation #838807 by Scott
- 彼は画家として才能を持っています。He has talent as a painter.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are at an art gallery.
- 美咲 Misakiこの作品を描いた画家は誰ですか？Kono sakuhin o kaita gaka wa dare desu ka?Who is the painter who painted this work?
- 陽太 Yota有名なフランス人の画家ですよ。Yūmei na Furansujin no gaka desu yo.It is a famous French painter.
- 美咲 Misaki色使いが本当に素晴らしいですね。Irozukai ga hontō ni subarashii desu ne.The use of color is truly wonderful.
- 陽太 Yotaええ、世界中で愛されている画家です。Ee, sekaijū de aisarete iru gaka desu.Yes, they are a painter loved all over the world.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “painter” translations and entries 画家, 絵描き, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
