划

劃

huá, huà

刂 + 戈

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

huá (verb) to row; to paddle

huá (verb) to cut; to slash; to scratch

huá (adjective) profitable; worth the effort

huà (verb) to draw (a line); to mark

huà (verb) to plan; to assign

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 戈 represents the sound. In simplified Chinese 划 is also used to mean "cut, delimit, draw", while in traditional Chinese this meaning is written with a separate character 劃.

About

划 is a simplified character merging two traditional forms. It is a phonosemantic compound: the knife radical 刂 conveys the core meaning, while 戈 indicates the sound. Originally, this character referred to physical actions such as scratching, cutting, or rowing. When Chinese characters were simplified, 划 absorbed the structurally more complex 劃, which carried the abstract meanings of delimiting, planning, and drawing. As a result, the modern 划 covers both concrete acts with a sharp edge and strategic calculation, with context clarifying the intended sense.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我在湖边划船。

Wǒ zài hú biān huá chuán.

I am rowing a boat by the lake.

我计划去北京。

Wǒ jìhuà qù Běijīng.

I plan to go to Beijing.

老师划分了小组。

Lǎoshī huàfēn le xiǎozǔ.

The teacher divided the groups.

他用刀划了纸。

Tā yòng dāo huá le zhǐ.

He scratched the paper with a knife.

我们正在划船游玩。

Wǒmen zhèngzài huá chuán yóuwán.

We are rowing for fun.

城市规划很重要。

Chéngshì guīhuà hěn zhòngyào.

Urban planning is very important.

如果你划船技术好，我们可以比赛。

Rúguǒ nǐ huá chuán jìshù hǎo, wǒmen kěyǐ bǐsài.

If your rowing skills are good, we can race.

根据公司的战略规划，我们将划拨资金给新项目。

Gēnjù gōngsī de zhànlüè guīhuà, wǒmen jiāng huàbō zījīn gěi xīn xiàngmù.

According to the company's strategic plan, we will allocate funds to the new project.

Related Characters

Component: 刂

Component: 戈

划