お絵えかき

お

え

か

き

Meanings

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb

drawing; painting

usually written using kana alonechildren's language

Childish or affectionate term for drawing or painting; often used by or with children. The お- prefix adds politeness or cuteness.

子こどもがお絵えかきをしている。
The child is drawing.

お絵えかき帳ちょうに好すきな絵えを描かいてね。

Draw your favorite picture in the drawing book.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb

doodling; sketching

colloquial

Colloquial use for casual, aimless drawing or doodling, not necessarily by children.

会かい議ぎ中ちゅうにお絵えかきしてた。
I was doodling during the meeting.

Written forms

お絵えかき
Common kana-mixed spelling; the word is usually written in kana, and this form is widely used.
お絵え描かき
Alternate kanji spelling using 描く; also common.
お絵え書かき
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

絵picture, drawing, painting
描sketch, compose, write
書write

Similar words

絵え
絵 is a general word for picture or painting, while お絵かき specifically refers to the act of drawing, often with a childish or casual nuance.
落らく書がき
落書き means scribbling or graffiti, often with a negative connotation, whereas お絵かき is a more innocent, playful term for drawing.

Etymology

From お- (honorific prefix) + 絵 (picture) + かき (noun form of 書く/描く, to draw/write). The combination is a child-friendly or affectionate term for drawing.