Definitions

(noun) picture; drawing; diagram
(noun) map; chart
(verb) to plan; to scheme; to attempt

Etymology

Simplified form of . Depicts a map of city boundaries () and places outside the city boundaries ().

About

The character "图", whose traditional form is "圖", originally conveyed the concept of a map or territorial plan, an idea embedded within its composition. Etymologically, it combines the enclosure radical "囗", representing a bounded area, with "啚", a component which historically signified a granary or storehouse, thus together implying the delineation and strategic planning of a domain. Over time, its meaning expanded from this concrete sense of a geographical chart to encompass any kind of diagram, blueprint, or illustrative plan, and further abstracted to include notions of intention, ambition, and seeking, as seen in words like "企图" (to attempt) and "图谋" (to scheme). The structural simplification from "圖" to "图" replaced the internal complex component with the more straightforward "冬", a change which streamlined writing while retaining the essential enclosing framework of the original form.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我正在看地

Wǒ zhèngzài kàn dìtú.

I am looking at the map.

这张片很漂亮。

Zhè zhāng túpiàn hěn piàoliang.

This picture is very beautiful.

我去书馆看书。

Wǒ qù túshūguǎn kàn shū.

I go to the library to read books.

他试解决这个问题。

Tā shìtú jiějué zhège wèntí.

He attempted to solve this problem.

这个表显示数据。

Zhège túbiǎo xiǎnshì shùjù.

This chart displays data.

不要贪便宜的商品。

Bùyào tāntú piányi de shāngpǐn.

Do not covet cheap goods.

工程师正在设计纸。

Gōngchéngshī zhèngzài shèjì túzhǐ.

The engineer is designing the blueprint.

他们谋夺取公司的控制权。

Tāmen túmóu duóqǔ gōngsī de kòngzhìquán.

They plotted to seize control of the company.