画家（がか、gaka）
- painter

The Japanese word 画家 (がか) means "painter," "artist," or "fine artist." It specifically refers to someone who creates art using paint or other pigments, typically on a canvas, paper, or other surfaces. The focus is on the creation of visual art, usually with an aesthetic purpose. The scope can include various painting styles and mediums. The term encompasses both professional and amateur artists who engage in the practice of painting.

⚫︎彼は有名な画家です。 Translation: He is a famous painter. ⚫︎画家の展覧会に行きました。 Translation: I went to an exhibition of painters' works. ⚫︎彼女は将来、画家になりたいと思っています。 Translation: She wants to become a painter in the future.

You use 画家 when referring to someone whose profession or hobby is painting, or when discussing the art of painting in general. It's used in various contexts, such as describing an artist, discussing art exhibitions, or talking about the process of painting itself. It is a common term used in everyday conversation and in more formal settings, such as museums or art galleries.

⚫︎ The word is written using the kanji 画家, which combines 画 (ga), meaning "picture" or "drawing," and 家 (ka), meaning "person" or "expert." ⚫︎ The pronunciation is がか (gaka) in hiragana. ⚫︎ There are no other common ways to write this word or variations in okurigana.

⚫︎ アーティスト (ātisuto) - Artist (loanword from English; broader term) ⚫︎ 絵描き (ekaki) - Painter (more casual term) ⚫︎ 美術家 (bijutsuka) - Artist (general term, often used for artists in fine arts)

⚫︎ While there isn't a direct antonym, words that describe related professions or fields that are not painting could be considered opposite in a way, such as: ⚫︎ 彫刻家 (chōkokuka) - Sculptor ⚫︎ 写真家 (shashinka) - Photographer

その画家は風景画で有名です。 ・Translation: That painter is famous for landscape paintings. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 画家 to describe a painter specializing in landscape art.

ピカソは世界的に有名な画家でした。 ・Translation: Picasso was a world-famous painter. ・Explanation: This sentence refers to the painter Picasso, using 画家 to describe his profession and recognition.

The word 画家 is composed of two kanji. 画 (ga) originates from the Chinese character meaning "picture" or "drawing." 家 (ka) comes from the Chinese character meaning "house" or "family." The combination of these two characters creates a word that is closely related to the English word "artist."