túzhǐ: 图纸 - Blueprint, Drawing, Diagram

• Keywords: túzhǐ, 图纸, Chinese for blueprint, technical drawing in Chinese, engineering drawing Chinese, architectural plan Chinese, diagram, schematics, what is tuzhi, learn Chinese for engineering
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 图纸 (túzhǐ), which translates to blueprint, technical drawing, or architectural plan. This guide covers its meaning, from simple diagrams to complex engineering schematics, providing practical examples for contexts like construction, design, and manufacturing in China. Understand how to use 图纸 (túzhǐ) correctly and avoid common mistakes when discussing plans and designs.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): túzhǐ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A blueprint, technical drawing, diagram, or architectural plan.
• In a Nutshell: 图纸 (túzhǐ) literally means “diagram paper” and refers to any kind of formal, detailed drawing used for a technical or construction purpose. Think of the large sheets of paper an architect unrolls to show a building's design, the schematics an engineer uses for a machine, or the plans for manufacturing a new product. It's a practical, concrete term for a visual plan used to build or create something.

• 图 (tú): This character means “picture,” “diagram,” or “map.” It represents a visual layout or plan.
• 纸 (zhǐ): This character means “paper.” Its left-side radical 纟(sī) is related to “silk,” as early writing surfaces were often made of silk or bamboo before paper became widespread.
• Combination: By putting “diagram” (图) and “paper” (纸) together, you get 图纸 (túzhǐ), the physical paper that contains a technical diagram or plan. Even when referring to a digital file (like a CAD file), the name 图纸 is still used, highlighting its origin as a physical document.

While not a deeply philosophical term, 图纸 (túzhǐ) holds significant practical importance in modern China. Its frequent use is directly tied to the country's massive and rapid development over the past few decades. The “culture” surrounding 图纸 is one of precision, engineering, manufacturing, and large-scale construction. In the West, especially in recent years, the focus has shifted heavily to digital files (e.g., “the CAD files,” “the PDF”). While China is extremely technologically advanced and uses these digital formats ubiquitously, the word 图纸 remains the default term for “the plan.” It functions much like the English word “blueprint,” which we still use to mean “a detailed plan” even though the blue-and-white cyanotype printing process is obsolete. 图纸 evokes a sense of concrete reality and execution—it's not just an idea, it's the official guide for making something real.

图纸 (túzhǐ) is a professional and standard term used in any field that requires technical plans. It carries a neutral, formal connotation.

This is the most common context. You will hear 图纸 constantly on construction sites (建筑工地), in engineering firms (工程公司), and at manufacturing plants (工厂). It is the definitive document that guides the work. Workers, engineers, and architects all refer to the 图纸 as their single source of truth for a project.

From product design to fashion, any field that requires a detailed schematic before production will use the term 图纸. For example, a furniture designer will create a 图纸 for a new chair, and a clothing factory will use a 图纸 (often called a “pattern” in English) to cut fabric.

• Example 1:
  • 建筑师正在审阅新大楼的图纸。
  • Pinyin: Jiànzhùshī zhèngzài shěnyuè xīn dàlóu de túzhǐ.
  • English: The architect is reviewing the blueprints for the new building.
  • Analysis: A very standard sentence in a professional setting. `审阅 (shěnyuè)` means to review or examine, a common verb used with 图纸.
• Example 2:
  • 我们必须严格按照图纸施工。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū yángé ànzhào túzhǐ shīgōng.
  • English: We must carry out the construction work in strict accordance with the drawings.
  • Analysis: This highlights the authoritative nature of the 图纸. `严格按照 (yángé ànzhào)` means “to strictly follow,” emphasizing precision. `施工 (shīgōng)` is the formal term for “construction work.”
• Example 3:
  • 工程师发现图纸上有一个小错误。
  • Pinyin: Gōngchéngshī fāxiàn túzhǐ shàng yǒu yí ge xiǎo cuòwù.
  • English: The engineer found a small mistake on the drawing.
  • Analysis: This shows a common real-world problem. The word `上 (shàng)` is used to mean “on” the paper.
• Example 4:
  • 你能把最新的电子版图纸发给我吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bǎ zuìxīn de diànzǐbǎn túzhǐ fā gěi wǒ ma?
  • English: Can you send me the latest digital version of the drawings?
  • Analysis: This shows how 图纸 is adapted for the digital age. `电子版 (diànzǐbǎn)` means “electronic version.”
• Example 5:
  • 这份图纸太复杂了，我看不懂。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn túzhǐ tài fùzá le, wǒ kàn bu dǒng.
  • English: This blueprint is too complicated, I can't understand it.
  • Analysis: `份 (fèn)` is a common measure word for documents, including 图纸. `看不懂 (kàn bu dǒng)` is a useful phrase meaning “can't understand by reading/looking.”
• Example 6:
  • 在开始生产之前，我们需要最终的图纸。
  • Pinyin: Zài kāishǐ shēngchǎn zhīqián, wǒmen xūyào zuìzhōng de túzhǐ.
  • English: Before starting production, we need the final drawings.
  • Analysis: This sentence is common in a manufacturing context. `生产 (shēngchǎn)` means “to produce” or “production.”
• Example 7:
  • 他画了一张简单的图纸来解释他的想法。
  • Pinyin: Tā huà le yì zhāng jiǎndān de túzhǐ lái jiěshì tā de xiǎngfǎ.
  • English: He drew a simple diagram to explain his idea.
  • Analysis: While 图纸 is often for complex projects, it can also refer to a simpler, functional diagram. Here, it's more “diagram” than “blueprint.”
• Example 8:
  • 这个项目的图纸已经修改了五次。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge xiàngmù de túzhǐ yǐjīng xiūgǎi le wǔ cì.
  • English: The drawings for this project have already been revised five times.
  • Analysis: `修改 (xiūgǎi)` means “to revise” or “to modify,” a frequent action associated with 图纸 during the design process.
• Example 9:
  • 没有图纸，我们怎么知道怎么盖房子？
  • Pinyin: Méiyǒu túzhǐ, wǒmen zěnme zhīdào zěnme gài fángzi?
  • English: Without the blueprints, how do we know how to build the house?
  • Analysis: A practical, rhetorical question emphasizing the absolute necessity of a 图纸 in construction.
• Example 10:
  • 客户批准了这套图纸。
  • Pinyin: Kèhù pīzhǔn le zhè tào túzhǐ.
  • English: The client has approved this set of drawings.
  • Analysis: `批准 (pīzhǔn)` means “to approve” and is a key step in any project. `套 (tào)` is a measure word for a “set” of things, fitting for a collection of drawings.

• 图纸 (túzhǐ) vs. 地图 (dìtú): This is a critical distinction for learners.
  • 图纸 (túzhǐ): A technical drawing for building or making something (a house, a machine, a circuit).
  • 地图 (dìtú): A geographical map for navigation (a city map, a world map).
  • Incorrect: 我需要一张图纸来找到火车站。 (I need a blueprint to find the train station.) → Correct: 我需要一张地图… (I need a map…)
  • Easy way to remember: You use a 地图 (dìtú) to find the construction site, and then you use the 图纸 (túzhǐ) to build the building.
• 图纸 (túzhǐ) vs. 画 (huà):
  • 图纸 (túzhǐ): A functional, precise, technical plan. Its purpose is utility.
  • 画 (huà): A painting or an artistic drawing. Its purpose is aesthetic.
  • Incorrect: 蒙娜丽莎是一张有名的图纸。 (The Mona Lisa is a famous blueprint.) → Correct: 蒙娜丽莎是一幅有名的画。 (The Mona Lisa is a famous painting.)
• Don't use for casual sketches: If you are just doodling on a napkin to explain a quick idea, that is a 草图 (cǎotú - sketch/draft), not a formal 图纸. Using 图纸 would sound overly formal and strange in a casual context.

• 蓝图 (lántú) - Blueprint. A direct synonym, literally “blue drawing,” referencing the old cyanotype printing method. It's often used more metaphorically than 图纸 to mean a grand plan for the future (e.g., 人生蓝图 - life's blueprint).
• 设计 (shèjì) - Design; to design. This is the process or profession that creates the 图纸.
• 草图 (cǎotú) - Draft, sketch. The rough, initial drawing made before the final, detailed 图纸 is completed.
• 施工图 (shīgōngtú) - Construction drawing. A very specific and official type of 图纸 used by workers on a construction site.
• 方案 (fāng'àn) - Plan, proposal, scheme. This refers to the overall strategy or proposal, which includes written descriptions, budgets, and timelines. The 图纸 is the technical visual component of a 方案.
• 工程师 (gōngchéngshī) - Engineer. A professional who designs, creates, and uses 图纸.
• 建筑师 (jiànzhùshī) - Architect. A professional who specializes in designing buildings and creating the corresponding 图纸.
• 地图 (dìtú) - Map. A crucial related word to distinguish from 图纸. It is used for geography and navigation, not for construction or manufacturing.