絵
e[e̞]
The Japanese word for 'painting' is 絵, or 絵画 in formal contexts.
Meaning: an illustration or artwork using paint (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 絵 | e | [e̞] (narrow) |
| 絵画 | kaiga | [ka̠iɡa̠] (narrow) |
The word refers to an illustration or artwork made using paint. To express the action of painting or drawing a picture, you use the verb phrase 絵を描く.
Which one should you use?
絵 is the general word used for any picture or painting. In contrast, 絵画 is used specifically to refer to painting as a fine art or a formal category of art.
How do you pronounce it?
e
Did you know?
- The word 絵 is part of the compound 絵文字 (emoji), which literally translates to 'picture characters' in English.
- The phrase 絵に描いた餅 literally means 'mochi drawn in a picture' and is used as an idiom for a plan that looks great but is completely useless.
- In traditional Japanese art, the 'painting' often focuses on the beauty of empty space, known as 間, which is considered as important as the painted subject.
Examples in context
- これは絵だよ。This is a painting.This sentence is useful for identifying an object as a painting using 絵.Tatoeba #10108510 by bunbuku, translation #55781 by CK
- 絵を描くの好き？Do you like painting?This sentence is useful for asking about a person's interest in painting using 絵.Tatoeba #11814360 by small_snow, translation #10816642 by ddnktr
- あの絵は複製です。That painting is a copy.This sentence is useful for describing a painting as a copy using 絵.Tatoeba #231133 by KK_kaku_, translation #68499 by CK
- 絵画は美しいですね。The painting is beautiful, isn't it?
- 明日、絵の展示会に行こう。Let's go to the art exhibition tomorrow.
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are visiting an art museum.
- 健太 Kentaこの絵はとてもきれいですね。Kono e wa totemo kirei desu ne.This painting is very beautiful, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari本当に。色が鮮やかです。Hontō ni. Iro ga azayaka desu.It really is. The colors are vivid.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵さんは絵に詳しいですか？Himari-san wa e ni kuwashii desu ka?Himari, do you know much about paintings?
- 陽葵 Himariいいえ、ただ見るのが好きです。Iie, tada miru no ga suki desu.No, I just like looking at them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “painting” translations and entries 絵, 絵画, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
