日本画(にほんが)

にほんが
noun
Japanese-style painting
leisure
1. Japanese-style painting; nihonga
A style of painting based on traditional Japanese artistic conventions, techniques, and materials such as mineral pigments, ink, and washi paper or silk. Distinguished from Western-style painting (洋画) as a category in the Japanese art world.
美術館(びじゅつかん)で日本画(にほんが)の展覧会(てんらんかい)を見(み)た。
I saw a Japanese painting exhibition at the art museum.
大学(だいがく)で日本画(にほんが)を専攻(せんこう)している。
I'm majoring in Japanese-style painting at university.
日本画(にほんが)は岩絵具(いわえのぐ)や墨(すみ)など天然(てんねん)の素材(そざい)を使(つか)って描(えが)かれる。
Japanese-style paintings are created using natural materials such as mineral pigments and ink.

Cultural note

The term 日本画(にほんが) was coined in the Meiji period to distinguish traditional Japanese painting from newly introduced Western-style painting (洋画(ようが)). This distinction remains important in the Japanese art world, where art departments, exhibitions, and competitions are often divided into 日本画(にほんが) and 洋画(ようが) categories.

Common collocations

  • 日本画(にほんが)家(か) (Japanese-style painter)
  • 日本画(にほんが)の技法(ぎほう) (Japanese painting techniques)
  • 日本画(にほんが)展(てん) (Japanese painting exhibition)
  • 現代(げんだい)日本画(にほんが) (contemporary Japanese-style painting)

Similar words

  • 洋画(ようが): Western-style painting — the counterpart category using oil paints, canvas, and Western techniques
  • 水墨画(すいぼくが): ink wash painting — a specific type within 日本画(にほんが) using only black ink

Related Words

Compare: 洋画(ようが) (Western-style painting)
Related: 余白(よはく) (margin, blank space)
Compare: 水墨画(すいぼくが) (ink wash painting)
Related: 油絵(あぶらえ) (oil painting)
Related: 水彩画(すいさいが) (watercolor painting)
Compare: 油彩(ゆさい) (oil painting)
general
Added 2026.3.20 21:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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