dònghuà: 动画 - Animation, Cartoon

• Keywords: donghua, 动画, Chinese animation, what is donghua, learn Chinese, Chinese cartoon, Chinese anime, 动漫 vs 动画, HSK 4 Chinese word
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 动画 (dònghuà), the essential Chinese word for 'animation' or 'cartoon'. This guide explores its character origins (moving pictures), cultural significance in the rise of Chinese anime (国漫), and practical use in daily conversation. Understand the key differences between 动画 (dònghuà), 动漫 (dòngmàn), and 卡通 (kǎtōng) with over 10 example sentences for beginner to intermediate learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dònghuà
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A series of images displayed in rapid succession to create the illusion of movement; animation.
• In a Nutshell: 动画 (dònghuà) is the most direct and universal word for “animation” in Chinese. It's a literal term meaning “moving pictures” and can refer to anything from a Disney classic and a Japanese anime series to a simple flip-book or a CGI film. It is the technical and general-purpose term for the medium itself.

• 动 (dòng): This character means “to move,” “motion,” or “action.” It's composed of the radical for strength (力, lì) and a phonetic component, suggesting that motion requires force or effort.
• 画 (huà): This character means “picture,” “drawing,” or “to draw.” The character's form can be visualized as a brush (top part) outlining a field or a frame (the box below).
• Together, 动 (dòng) + 画 (huà) literally and logically combine to mean “moving pictures”—a perfect description of animation.

In modern China, 动画 (dònghuà) is a massive part of pop culture, largely thanks to the immense influence of Japanese anime (日本动画, Rìběn dònghuà) starting in the 1980s and 90s. For decades, many of the most popular animated shows were imported from Japan. However, in recent years, there has been a powerful surge in domestic Chinese animation, a movement known as 国漫 (guómàn), short for 国产动漫 (guóchǎn dòngmàn - domestically produced animation and comics). Blockbuster films like *Ne Zha* (哪吒之魔童降世, Nézhā zhī Mótóng Jiàngshì) have broken box office records, showcasing a unique Chinese aesthetic and drawing heavily from classical literature and mythology. This has ignited national pride and global interest in the Chinese animation industry. To make a comparison with English, 动画 (dònghuà) is most similar to the broad term “animation.” In English, “cartoon” often implies something for children or a comedic, non-realistic style (like *Looney Tunes*). While 动画 (dònghuà) can be used for these, the Chinese loanword 卡通 (kǎtōng) is often preferred for that specific context, especially for Western children's shows. A serious, artistic animated film for adults, like *Spirited Away*, would almost always be called 动画 (dònghuà), not 卡通 (kǎtōng).

动画 (dònghuà) is a common, everyday word used in various contexts.

• Discussing Hobbies: It's one of the first words you'd learn to talk about your interest in watching animated content. e.g., “我的爱好是看动画” (My hobby is watching animation).
• In Media and Film: When discussing films, you would specify a movie as an “animated film” using 动画电影 (dònghuà diànyǐng).
• On Social Media: On video platforms like Bilibili (B站), the “动画区” (dònghuà qū - Animation Section) is one of the largest and most active communities, featuring everything from official series to fan-made creations and reviews.
• In the Industry: People working as animators are called 动画师 (dònghuàshī), and they work for 动画公司 (dònghuà gōngsī).

The term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal situations.

• Example 1:
  • 我从小就喜欢看动画片。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ cóngxiǎo jiù xǐhuān kàn dònghuà piàn.
  • English: I've loved watching cartoons/animated shows since I was a child.
  • Analysis: 动画片 (dònghuà piàn) is a very common way to refer to an animated show or film, with 片 (piàn) meaning “film” or “slice.”
• Example 2:
  • 这部动画的画面非常精美。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù dònghuà de huàmiàn fēicháng jīngměi.
  • English: The visuals in this animation are exquisite.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates using 动画 to refer to a specific work. 部 (bù) is the correct measure word for films and series.
• Example 3:
  • 我的梦想是成为一名动画师。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de mèngxiǎng shì chéngwéi yī míng dònghuàshī.
  • English: My dream is to become an animator.
  • Analysis: Shows the term used in a professional context. 师 (shī) means “master” or “teacher” and is used in many job titles.
• Example 4:
  • 中国的动画产业最近几年发展得很快。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de dònghuà chǎnyè zuìjìn jǐ nián fāzhǎn de hěn kuài.
  • English: China's animation industry has been developing very rapidly in recent years.
  • Analysis: Here, 动画 refers to the industry as a whole.
• Example 5:
  • 你能给我推荐几部好看的国产动画吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng gěi wǒ tuījiàn jǐ bù hǎokàn de guóchǎn dònghuà ma?
  • English: Can you recommend a few good domestic (Chinese) animated shows to me?
  • Analysis: 国产 (guóchǎn) means “domestically produced” and is often used to specify Chinese-made media.
• Example 6:
  • 这是一部适合全家观看的动画电影。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī bù shìhé quán jiā guānkàn de dònghuà diànyǐng.
  • English: This is an animated movie that's suitable for the whole family to watch.
  • Analysis: 动画电影 (dònghuà diànyǐng) is the specific term for “animated film/movie.”
• Example 7:
  • 制作一部动画需要巨大的耐心和团队合作。
  • Pinyin: Zhìzuò yī bù dònghuà xūyào jùdà de nàixīn hé tuánduì hézuò.
  • English: Producing an animation requires immense patience and teamwork.
  • Analysis: Using 动画 to refer to the product being created.
• Example 8:
  • 日本动画和美国动画的风格有很大的不同。
  • Pinyin: Rìběn dònghuà hé Měiguó dònghuà de fēnggé yǒu hěn dà de bùtóng.
  • English: The styles of Japanese animation and American animation are very different.
  • Analysis: A common topic of conversation, comparing animation from different cultures.
• Example 9:
  • 他不仅喜欢看动画，还喜欢收集动画周边。
  • Pinyin: Tā bùjǐn xǐhuān kàn dònghuà, hái xǐhuān shōují dònghuà zhōubiān.
  • English: He not only likes to watch animation, but also likes to collect animation-related merchandise.
  • Analysis: 周边 (zhōubiān), short for 周边产品 (zhōubiān chǎnpǐn), means “merchandise” or “peripheral products.”
• Example 10:
  • 这部动画连续剧我一集也没落下。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù dònghuà liánxùjù wǒ yī jí yě méi làxià.
  • English: I haven't missed a single episode of this animated series.
  • Analysis: 连续剧 (liánxùjù) means “series,” so 动画连续剧 is an “animated series.”
• Example 11:
  • 虽然是动画，但故事内容非常深刻。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán shì dònghuà, dàn gùshì nèiróng fēicháng shēnkè.
  • English: Although it's an animation, the story's content is very profound.
  • Analysis: This sentence challenges the stereotype that animation is only for children.

The biggest point of confusion for learners is the difference between 动画 (dònghuà), 动漫 (dòngmàn), and 卡通 (kǎtōng).

• 动画 (dònghuà) vs. 动漫 (dòngmàn): This is the most critical distinction.
  • 动画 (dònghuà): The Medium. It strictly means “animation” (moving pictures). You watch 动画.
  • 动漫 (dòngmàn): The Subculture. It's a blend of 动画 (animation) and 漫画 (mànhuà - comics/manga). It refers to the entire ecosystem of anime and manga, including the media, cosplay, merchandise, and fan community. While people colloquially say “我喜欢看动漫” (I like to watch anime/manga), it's more precise to say you watch 动画 and read 漫画. The culture itself is 动漫.
  • Incorrect Usage: Pointing at a TV screen showing an anime and saying, “这部动漫很好看。” (This “anime-and-manga-culture” is great to watch.)
  • Correct Usage: “这部动画很好看。” (This animation is great to watch.)
• 动画 (dònghuà) vs. 卡通 (kǎtōng):
  • 动画 (dònghuà): The general term for all animation.
  • 卡通 (kǎtōng): A loanword from “cartoon.” It strongly implies a style that is for children, comedic, or Western (e.g., *SpongeBob SquarePants*, *Tom and Jerry*). You would not call a serious or artistic work like *Grave of the Fireflies* a 卡通. Using 卡通 to describe all animation can make you sound like you believe all animation is for kids.

• 动漫 (dòngmàn) - A broader cultural term for the entire subculture of animation and comics (manga).
• 卡通 (kǎtōng) - A loanword for “cartoon,” often implying content for children or a Western style.
• 漫画 (mànhuà) - The Chinese word for comics or Japanese manga. The “màn” in “dòngmàn.”
• 国漫 (guómàn) - A popular term for domestic Chinese animation and comics, reflecting the industry's recent boom.
• 电影 (diànyǐng) - Movie/film. An animated film is an “动画电影”.
• 电视剧 (diànshìjù) - TV series. An animated series can be called an “动画连续剧”.
• 配音 (pèiyīn) - Dubbing or voice acting, a crucial profession in the animation industry.
• 角色 (juésè) - Character (in a story). A key element discussed when analyzing an animation.
• 制作 (zhìzuò) - To produce or make; production. Used to talk about the creation process of an animation.
• 导演 (dǎoyǎn) - Director. The person who directs an animated film is also a 导演.