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美术 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
美术měishùartHSK 5, n, 14 strokes, rank #10964, Hard
美术měishùfine artsHSK 5, n, 14 strokes, rank #10964, Hard
美术měishùpaintingHSK 5, n, 14 strokes, rank #10964, Hard
měishù(mei3shu4)mei shu T3
  1. 1art
  2. 2fine arts
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March 24, 2026

美术(美術)měishù(mei3shu4)

美术 (měi shù) refers to fine arts, encompassing various forms of visual art such as painting, sculpture, and design. It is commonly used in academic contexts, art classes, and discussions about artistic expression and appreciation. The term highlights the aesthetic quality of art, distinguishing it from other forms like applied arts or crafts.

Strokes14Frequency#10964DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In China, 美术 has a significant place in education, with many schools offering specialized programs in fine arts. The appreciation of 美术 is deeply rooted in Chinese history, reflecting traditional values and modern influences.

Memory tip

Think of 美 (měi) as 'beautiful' and 术 (shù) as 'skills' or 'techniques'. Imagine an artist skillfully creating beautiful works, using techniques that captivate the eye. Visualize an art studio filled with stunning paintings to help remember this connection.

Meanings of 美术

měishù(mei3shu4)
1art
2fine arts
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 美术

美术Simplified
美術Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#10964Frequency Rank
种Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 美术

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Podcast: 美术

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AI study notes for 美术

Quick Contrast

绘画 (huìhuà) refers specifically to painting, while 美术 (měishù) encompasses a broader range of visual arts.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 美术 with 艺术 (yì shù), which is a broader term for 'art' that includes performing arts. 美术 is often used in educational contexts, so it has a more formal tone. Common collocations include '美术作品' (měi shù zuò pǐn - fine art works) and '美术馆' (měi shù guǎn - art gallery).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 美术 connects well with other vocabulary related to culture and aesthetics, such as 文化 (wén huà - culture) and 艺术 (yì shù - art). Students should focus on understanding its usage in context and its relationship to other artistic terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 美术 with related terms like 艺术 or 设计 (shè jì - design), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我学习设计' (Wǒ xué xí shè jì - I study design) when referring to fine arts should be corrected to '我学习美术'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 美术

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Component characters

美měibeautiful
HSK 49 strokes羊
View full entry
术shùmethod
HSK 45 strokes木
View full entry

How to say art in Chinese

“art” in Chinese is美术měishù

美术 (měi shù) refers to fine arts, encompassing various forms of visual art such as painting, sculpture, and design. It is commonly used in academic contexts, art classes, and discussions about artistic expression and appreciation. The term highlights the aesthetic quality of art, distinguishing it from other forms like applied arts or crafts.

When to use 美术

Be careful not to confuse 美术 with 艺术 (yì shù), which is a broader term for 'art' that includes performing arts. 美术 is often used in educational contexts, so it has a more formal tone. Common collocations include '美术作品' (měi shù zuò pǐn - fine art works) and '美术馆' (měi shù guǎn - art gallery).

美术 or something close to it

绘画 (huìhuà) refers specifically to painting, while 美术 (měishù) encompasses a broader range of visual arts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 美术 with related terms like 艺术 or 设计 (shè jì - design), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我学习设计' (Wǒ xué xí shè jì - I study design) when referring to fine arts should be corrected to '我学习美术'.

Write 美术

美
术

Practice writing 美术 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 美术

美术 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

对于____和音乐，她很有研究。

Regarding art and music, she has done a lot of research.

Example sentences for 美术 (11)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
nart10
1
詹金森促成了老美术馆的重新整修。

zhān jīn sēn cùchéng le lǎo měishùguǎn de chóngxīn zhěng xiū。

Jenkinson instigated a refurbishment of the old gallery.
2
1999年首届东宇美术馆收藏展(沈阳?东宇美术馆).

1999 nián shǒu jiè dōng yǔ měishùguǎn shōucáng Zhǎn( chén yáng? dōng yǔ měishùguǎn).

First Dongyu Art Museum Collection Show, Shenyang Dongyu Art Museum.
3
美术书籍制作成本高。

měishù shūjí zhìzuò chéngběn gāo。

Art books are expensive to produce.
4
在18世纪，人们认为美术和音乐、诗歌一样，能够起到教化作用。

zài18 shìjì， rénmen rènwéi měishù hé yīnyuè、 shīgē yíyàng， nénggòu qǐdào jiàohuà zuòyòng。

In the 18th century art was seen, along with music and poetry, as something edifying.
5
索菲问她是否愿意来教美术课。

Suǒ fēi wèn tā shìfǒu yuànyì lái jiāo měishù kè。

Sophie asked her if she would like to come and give art lessons.
6
这位美术家一定花了好几小时把这画像蚀刻在玻璃上.

zhè wèi měishù jiā yídìng huā le hǎo jǐ xiǎoshí bǎ zhè huà xiàng shí kè zài bōli shàng.

The artist must have spent hours etching the image on the glass.
7
她在大学主修美术，对现代艺术特别有研究。

Tā zài dàxué zhǔxiū měishù, duì xiàndài yìshù tèbié yǒu yánjiū.

She majored in art at university and has a special interest in modern art.
8
美术馆里展出了许多来自世界各地的艺术作品。

Měishùguǎn lǐ zhǎnchūle xǔduō láizì shìjiè gèdì de yìshù zuòpǐn.

The art gallery exhibits many artworks from around the world.
9
他对美术的热情从小就开始培养，如今已是一位著名画家。

Tā duì měishù de rèqíng cóngxiǎo jiù kāishǐ péiyǎng, rújīn yǐ shì yī wèi zhùmíng huàjiā.

His passion for art was nurtured from a young age, and he is now a well-known painter.
10
美术课程不仅提高了学生的艺术技能，还培养了他们的创造力。

Měishù kèchéng bùjǐn tígāo le xuéshēng de yìshù jìnéng, hái péiyǎng le tāmen de chuàngzàolì.

Art courses not only enhance students' artistic skills but also foster their creativity.
nfine arts1
11
我打算去大学学习美术，因为我对绘画和雕塑很感兴趣。

Wǒ dǎsuàn qù dàxué xuéxí měishù, yīnwèi wǒ duì huìhuà hé diāosù hěn gǎn xìngqù.

I plan to study fine arts at university because I am very interested in painting and sculpture.

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Frequently asked questions about 美术

美术 specifically refers to fine arts like painting and sculpture, while 艺术 is a broader term that encompasses all forms of art, including performing arts.

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