How to say "painting" in Japanese

• 絵えJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe general word for a picture or painting as an artwork: a painting on a wall, a picture a child has made. For 'a painting' in ordinary contexts, this is usually the word you want.
  あの絵えを壁かべに掛かけなさい。↗

  Hang that picture on the wall.
• 塗装とそうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbPainting in the practical sense of applying paint to a surface: coating a car, a wall, a building. It has nothing to do with artworks; think 'paint job', not 'painting'.
  彼かれらのボートは塗装とそうする必要ひつようがある。↗

  Their boat needs painting.
• 絵画かいがJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounPainting as an art form: paintings in museums, painting as one of the arts. Use it when 'painting' means the artwork or the genre; for an ordinary picture, 絵 is the default.
  その絵画かいがを見みたらおもしろかった。↗

  I found the picture interesting.
• 画業がぎょうCommon
  nounThis is not a painting but painting as a profession: a painter's career or lifework. It fits only talk about someone's occupation as a painter, never for 'a painting' on a wall.
• 図画ずがCommon
  nounGlossed 'painting', but this is really a word for drawings and pictures, and it is seldom the word you want for a painting; reach for 絵 or 絵画 instead.

Use 絵 for a painting as a picture or artwork, 絵画 for painting as an art form, 塗装 for painting surfaces, 画業 for painting as a profession, and 図画 seldom the right choice for a painting.

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

• 絵えpicture
• 塗装とそうcoating
• 絵画かいがpainting
• 画業がぎょうpainting (as a profession)
• 図画ずがdrawing
• 揮毫きごうwriting (esp. commissioned calligraphy)
• 彩色さいしきcolouring
• 描画びょうがdrawing
• ペインティングpainting
• 色絵いろえpainting
• ペンキ塗りペンキぬりpainting (houses, fences, etc.)
• 彩画さいがcolored picture
• 塗り物ぬりものlacquerware
• 染筆せんぴつwriting
• 肉筆画にくひつがpicture painted by hand
• おえかきdrawing
• 絵かきえかきdrawing pictures
• 丹青たんせいpainting