划

劃

huá, huà

刂 + 戈

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

huá (verb) to row; to paddle

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

huá (verb) 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

The modern character 划 combines two previously distinct characters, merging the meanings of physical scratching and abstract planning. Structurally, it pairs the weapon component 戈 with the knife radical 刂, highlighting actions involving sharp edges. Its simpler form originally meant to row a boat or make a scratch with a sharp object. During simplification, it absorbed the traditional character 劃, which had a more complex structure and referred to marking boundaries, designing, or calculating. Today, 划 must be interpreted by context, serving as both a physical cut and a strategic plan.

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