肖像画（しょうぞうが、shouzoうga）
- portrait

The Japanese word 肖像画 しょうぞうが refers to a "portrait" or a "portrait painting." It's a work of art that depicts a person, typically focusing on their face and expression, with the aim of capturing their likeness and personality. The word emphasizes the artistic representation of a person. A 肖像画 can be created using various mediums, such as paint, pencil, or even photography, though the word's connotation is often associated with painted portraits. It's important to differentiate this from a simple photograph, as the emphasis is on the artistic interpretation.

⚫︎ あの美術館には有名な画家の肖像画がたくさん展示されています。 Translation: Many portraits by famous painters are exhibited in that museum. ⚫︎ 彼女は、自分の肖像画を画家 に描いてもらった。 Translation: She had a painter paint her portrait. ⚫︎ 彼は自分の祖父の肖像画を大切にしている。 Translation: He cherishes the portrait of his grandfather.

You use 肖像画 when discussing or referring to portraits as artistic works. It’s suitable for describing paintings, drawings, or sculptures that portray a person or people. This word can be used in formal and informal contexts. It's often used in the context of art, history, or personal possessions.

肖像画 is written using the kanji 肖像 and 画. ⚫︎ 肖像 (しょうぞう) means "portrait" or "likeness." ⚫︎ 画 (が) means "picture" or "painting." ⚫︎ The word is typically written in hiragana as しょうぞうが to indicate the pronunciation. There are no significant variations in the okurigana for this word.

There are no perfect synonyms, but related terms include: ⚫︎ ポートレート (pōtorēto) - This is a loanword from English "portrait". It can be used, however it is not identical to 肖像画 and is typically used more broadly. ⚫︎ 人物画 (じんぶつが) - This means "figure painting" and encompasses any painting depicting a person, so it's a broader term than 肖像画.

There are no direct antonyms. The concept is that of a "non-portrait." Examples include: ⚫︎ 風景画 (ふうけいが) - landscape painting ⚫︎ 静物画 (せいぶつが) - still life painting

その古い家の壁には、昔の貴族の肖像画が飾られていました。 ・Translation: A portrait of a nobleman from the past was displayed on the wall of that old house. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the presence of a portrait, specifically depicting a nobleman, indicating the subject and historical context.

有名な画家が描いた彼女の肖像画は、美術館で高値で取引された。 ・Translation: Her portrait, painted by a famous painter, was sold at a high price in the art museum. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the value and prestige associated with the portrait, emphasizing the skill of the artist and the significance of the artwork.

The word 肖像画 is a compound word. 肖像 comes from the characters that originally meant "resemblance" or "image." 画 simply means "picture" or "painting". Combining these, 肖像画 literally translates to "a picture of a person's likeness."