相 xiāng / xiàng — each other; one another; mutually; appearance; portrait; picture
这两个词的意思很相近。Zhè liǎng ge cí de yì si hěn xiāng jìn.The meanings of these two words are very similar.
Common words: 相信 (xiāng xìn)、相同 (xiāng tóng)、相机 (xiàng jī)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "picture"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "picture", including 相 (xiāng / xiàng), 影 (yǐng), 图 (tú), 画 (huà), 幅 (fú). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "picture" covers 5 different Chinese characters — 相 (xiāng / xiàng), 影 (yǐng), 图 (tú), 画 (huà), 幅 (fú) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 5 characters do not share a sound — their readings span xiāng, xiàng, yǐng, tú, huà, fú — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 相 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 相 xiāng / xiàngeach other; one another; mutually; appearance; portrait; pictureUseful words: 相信, 相同
- 影 yǐngpicture; image; reflection; shadowUseful words: 电影, 电影院
- 图 túdiagram; to plan; picture; drawing; chartUseful words: 地图, 图书馆
- 画 huàdraw; picture; paintingUseful words: 画家, 画儿
- 幅 fú(measure word for textile or picture); width; rollUseful words: 幅度, 大幅度
Common words for these 5 "picture" characters
Anchor each of these 5 characters in a word you can picture — start with 相 (xiāng / xiàng) — so "picture" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
相信xiāng xìnto believe; to be convinced; to accept as true相同xiāng tóngidentical; same相机xiàng jīcamera; at the opportune moment; as the circumstances allow电影diàn yǐngmovie; film电影院diàn yǐng yuàncinema; movie theater影响yǐng xiǎnginfluence; effect; to influence; to affect (usually adversely)地图dì túmap图书馆tú shū guǎnlibrary图片tú piànpicture; photograph画家huà jiāpainter
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 5 ways to say "picture".
影 yǐng — picture; image; reflection; shadow
树的影子映在水里。Shù de yǐng zi yìng zài shuǐ lǐ.The shadow of the tree is reflected in the water.
Common words: 电影 (diàn yǐng)、电影院 (diàn yǐng yuàn)、影响 (yǐng xiǎng)
图 tú — diagram; to plan; picture; drawing; chart
请看这张地图。Qǐng kàn zhè zhāng dì tú.Please look at this map.
Common words: 地图 (dì tú)、图书馆 (tú shū guǎn)、图片 (tú piàn)
画 huà — draw; picture; painting
妹妹很喜欢画画。Mèi mei hěn xǐ huan huà huà.My younger sister loves to draw.
Common words: 画家 (huà jiā)、画儿 (huà r)、图画 (tú huà)
幅 fú — (measure word for textile or picture); width; roll
墙上挂着一幅山水画。Qiáng shàng guà zhe yì fú shān shuǐ huà.A landscape painting hangs on the wall.
Common words: 幅度 (fú dù)、大幅度 (dà fú dù)、篇幅 (piān fu)
All 5 characters
Open 相、影、图 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.