What does the kanji '図' mean?


I'm a graphic designer and illustrator working on a personal character design
project about animals made out of combining different asymmetrical figures.

I've been trying to choose a name for my project, and I found out about this
Japanese kanji '図' (romanized 'Zu') which according to various dictionaries
that I have consulted, means "figure" but also means: illustration, drawing,
and most importantly "diagram".

I don't trust these dictionaries enough though, so what I need to know is if
'図' is really used to say "figure" or "illustration" in Japanese since I want
the project to be called 'Zumals', a word combination between that word 'Zu'
from Japanese, and the word 'animals' taken from English.




図 ("zu") is a word that primarily refers to technical diagrams and
illustrations. A typical 図 is something shown in [this
page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagram):

[![図](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AkEif.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AkEif.png)

Technical illustrations are also 図, but artistic illustrations are not.

[![図 and
non-図](https://i.stack.imgur.com/uixDw.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/uixDw.png)

The English word "figure" [has many meanings](https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/figure). 図 refers to "figure" as in "This research
paper has one table and four figures".

* * *

So the first thing you have to do is **check if you're really making a 図**
like the ones shown above.

However, even if you're actually making 図, that's not enough. Technically
speaking, "zumal" is a
[portmanteau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portmanteau), but 図 is a very
short word. It's very unlikely that anyone who is familiar with both English
and Japanese will notice your intention by looking at this word. If that's not
a problem to you, go ahead, but if you're thinking of using "zumal" as a
catchy title, you may want to reconsider.




図 ("zu") is a word that primarily refers to technical diagrams and
illustrations. A typical 図 is something shown in [this
page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagram):

[![図](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AkEif.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/AkEif.png)

Technical illustrations are also 図, but artistic illustrations are not.

[![図 and
non-図](https://i.stack.imgur.com/uixDw.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/uixDw.png)

The English word "figure" [has many meanings](https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/figure). 図 refers to "figure" as in "This research
paper has one table and four figures".

* * *

So the first thing you have to do is **check if you're really making a 図**
like the ones shown above.

However, even if you're actually making 図, that's not enough. Technically
speaking, "zumal" is a
[portmanteau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portmanteau), but 図 is a very
short word. It's very unlikely that anyone who is familiar with both English
and Japanese will notice your intention by looking at this word. If that's not
a problem to you, go ahead, but if you're thinking of using "zumal" as a
catchy title, you may want to reconsider.

