How to say "illustration" in Japanese

• イラストCommon
  nounThe loanword for 'illustration' as a picture, sketch, or drawing, such as the artwork accompanying a book or article. Its senses are all visual; the 'example' meaning of 'illustration' is not covered here.
  有難ありがたくも、10000hit越こえのお祝いわいイラストを頂いただいてしまいました！本当ほんとうにかたじけないです。↗

  I'm very lucky to have been gifted with this 10,000 hit picture! Thank you so very much.
• 例れいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'illustration' only in the sense of an example or instance that clarifies a point, as when a speaker cites a case during an explanation. It is not a word for pictures or drawings.
  彼かれは例れいを示しめして自分じぶんの理論りろんを説明せつめいした。↗

  He illustrated his theory with examples.
• 絵図えずCommon
  nounCovers 'illustration' as a drawing — a pictorial figure representing what something looks like. It is a drawing word, not an example word; the 'example' sense of 'illustration' is expressed by 例 or 実例.
• 実例じつれいJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounMatches 'illustration' only in the example sense: an actual, concrete instance or precedent, as when a writer cites a real case to back up a claim. It does not mean a picture or drawing.
  実例じつれいは教訓きょうくんにまさる。↗

  Example is better than precept.
• 図解ずかいCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbAn illustration in the sense of an explanatory diagram: a figure that clarifies how something works or is structured. Typical contexts include manuals and textbooks, where the figure's purpose is to explain.
  この図解ずかいは地球ちきゅうの深ふかい内部ないぶを示しめしている。↗

  The illustration shows the deep interior.

Choose by sense: 「イラスト」 for a picture, sketch, or drawing, 絵図 for a drawing or pictorial figure, 図解 for an explanatory diagram, and 例 or 実例 for the example sense, with 実例 implying an actual case or precedent.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• イラストillustration
• 例れいexample
• 絵図えずillustration
• 実例じつれいexample
• 図解ずかい(explanatory) diagram
• 挿絵さしえillustration (in a book, newspaper, etc.)
• 図説ずせつillustration
• 用例ようれいexample
• 図版ずはんplate
• 例証れいしょうexemplification
• 図ずdrawing
• イラストレーションillustration
• 例話れいわillustration
• 例解れいかいillustration
• 挿図そうずillustration
• 例説れいせつillustration (using an example)
• 挙例きょれいgiving an example
• イメージ画像イメージがぞうimage (used to explain or demonstrate something)
• 挿画そうが(book) illustration
• カットillustration (in a book, newspaper, etc.)