Meaning
划 has two main pronunciations with different meanings. As 'huá', it means to row a boat, to paddle, or to make a scratching motion. As 'huà', it means to divide, to delimit, or to plan. The character originally depicted cutting or dividing with a knife.
Usage
The pronunciation depends entirely on context. Use 'huá' for physical rowing or scratching actions. Use 'huà' in compounds about planning, dividing, or marking boundaries. Native speakers rely on context and compound words to distinguish meaning, such as 划船 (huá chuán, to row a boat) versus 计划 (jì huà, plan).
Examples
- 01我们周末去湖上划船吧。.Let's go rowing on the lake this weekend.
- 02这个城市划分为六个行政区。.This city is divided into six administrative districts.
Common collocations
- 划船to row a boat
- 划分to divide
- 计划plan
- 划算worthwhile, to be a good deal
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 劃 combines the knife radical 刂 with 畫, suggesting the action of cutting or marking divisions. The simplified form 划 uses the hand radical 扌 with 戈 (dagger-axe), emphasizing the physical action of划分 cutting or rowing.