岩画 (yán huà) literally means 'rock painting' — 岩 (yán) means 'rock' or 'cliff', and 画 (huà) means 'painting' or 'drawing'. Together, they refer to ancient pictorial or symbolic images created by humans on natural rock surfaces, including both painted images (pictographs) and carved or pecked designs (petroglyphs). These artworks are typically found in caves, cliffs, or open-air rock shelters and date back thousands of years.

岩画 is commonly used in academic, archaeological, and cultural contexts — for example, when discussing prehistoric human expression, regional heritage sites in China’s northwest (such as the Helan Mountains), or UNESCO World Heritage nominations. Unlike modern graffiti or decorative murals, 岩画 specifically implies antiquity, cultural significance, and preservation value. It is a formal, neutral term — not used for contemporary rock art or casual drawings on stones.