Chinese–EnglishWith examples

涂鸦

tú yā · tu ya

Traditional 塗鴉

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. graffiti
  2. scrawl
  3. poor calligraphy
  4. to write badly
  5. to scribble
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

Doodles in the notebook

  1. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)的(de)本子(běnzi)上(shàng)怎么(zěnme)都是(dōushì)涂鸦(túyā)？

    Why is your notebook full of doodles?

  2. Dengdeng

    开会(kāihuì)的时候(deshíhou)，我(wǒ)无聊(wúliáo)就(jiù)画画(huàhuà)。

    When I'm bored in meetings, I draw.

  3. Liangliang

    这个(zhège)涂鸦(túyā)是(shì)什么(shénme)？一(yī)只(zhī)鸟(niǎo)吗(ma)？

    What is this doodle? A bird?

  4. Dengdeng

    不(bù)，这(zhè)是(shì)你(nǐ)。

    No, this is you.

  5. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)？可是(kěshì)我(wǒ)没有(méiyǒu)翅膀(chìbǎng)啊(a)。

    Me? But I don't have wings.

  6. Dengdeng

    开会(kāihuì)时(shí)你(nǐ)说话(shuōhuà)太(tài)快(kuài)，像(xiàng)小鸟(xiǎoniǎo)一样(yīyàng)。

    In meetings you talk too fast, like a little bird.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

墙(qiáng)上(shàng)被(bèi)人(rén)涂(tú)鸦(yā)，写(xiě)满(mǎn)了(le)字(zì)。

The wall was covered in graffiti, filled with writing.

02

孩(hái)子(zi)在(zài)纸(zhǐ)上(shàng)随(suí)意(yì)涂(tú)鸦(yā)。

The child scribbles freely on the paper.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

Browse all wordsExplore words in context