How to Write 图 (tú) — Meaning “Picture / Map / Diagram”

Imagine a winter scene (冬) placed inside a picture frame (囗) — that framed winter scene is a 图 (picture). This visual trick helps you recall that 图 means picture or map because it looks like a framed image of winter.

First write the outer box 囗 in three strokes: left vertical, top-right corner, and bottom horizontal. Then write the inner 冬 with strokes: diagonal, horizontal curve, right-falling, and two dots at the bottom. A common mistake is making the inner part too large, so keep it centered and smaller than the box.

图 has 冬 (winter) inside the box, 囝 has 子 (child) inside, and 回 has a smaller 口 (mouth) inside. Their meanings are different: 图 means picture/map, 囝 means son (rarely used), and 回 means to return or a circle. Look at the inner component to know which character you are reading.

图 is very common in everyday words like 地图 (dì tú, map) and 图片 (tú piàn, picture) and 图书馆 (tú shū guǎn, library). In Chinese culture, libraries are called “picture-book halls,” showing how 图 carries the idea of a visual record. You will see 图 often on apps, signs, and in books.

Common words containing 图 include: 地图 (dì tú) — Map; 图书馆 (tú shū guǎn) — Library; 图片 (tú piàn) — Picture / Image.