Readings: ト (Onyomi), ぬ-る, ぬ-り, まみ-れる, まぶ-す (Kunyomi)
Meaning: paint, smear, apply, spread, coat
The kanji 塗 combines 土 (earth, soil) and 余 (surplus, remaining, to go over). The “余” component suggests the idea of “excess” or “spreading out,” and when combined with “土,” it conveys the action of spreading earth or a substance over a surface, hence leading to meanings like “to paint” or “to smear.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 塗 has 13 strokes. Start with the 土 (earth) radical on the left, then proceed with the right part, focusing on the balanced horizontal and vertical strokes, and finishing with the bottom components.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 土 (つち) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 13 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | Joyo Kanji |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ト (TO)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- ぬる (nuru)
- ぬり (nuri)
- まみれる (mamireru)
- まぶす (mabusu)
Common Words Using 塗
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 塗料 | とりょう | paint, coating material |
| 塗装 | とそう | painting, coating |
| 塗布 | とふ | application (of paint, cream, etc.) |
| 塗炭 | とたん | dire distress (as in 塗炭の苦しみ) |
| 塗抹 | とまつ | smearing, effacing |
| 塗膜 | とまく | coating film |
| 塗膜厚 | とまくあつ | coating film thickness |
| 塗布量 | とふりょう | application amount |
| 塗工 | とこう | coating (industrial process) |
| 塗料缶 | とりょうかん | paint can |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 塗る | ぬる | to paint, to coat, to spread |
| 塗れる | まみれる | to be covered in, to be smeared with |
| 塗す | まぶす | to sprinkle, to dredge (with flour, etc.) |
| 塗り薬 | ぬりぐすり | ointment |
| 塗り絵 | ぬりえ | coloring book |
| 塗り替える | ぬりかえる | to repaint |
| 塗り潰す | ぬりつぶす | to paint over, to blot out |
| 塗り壁 | ぬりかべ | plastered wall, Nurikabe (yokai) |
| 漆塗り | うるしぬり | lacquerware, lacquering |
| 塗りたて | ぬりたて | freshly painted |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 壁を白く塗る。
Kana: かべを しろく ぬる。
Romaji: Kabe o shiroku nuru.
English: I will paint the wall white.
Japanese: パンにバターを塗る。
Kana: パンに バターを ぬる。
Romaji: Pan ni batā o nuru.
English: Spread butter on the bread.
Japanese: 薬を傷口に塗った。
Kana: くすりを きずぐちに ぬった。
Romaji: Kusuri o kizuguchi ni nutta.
English: I applied medicine to the wound.
Japanese: 泥に塗れた服を洗う。
Kana: どろに まみれた ふくを あらう。
Romaji: Doro ni mamireta fuku o arau.
English: Wash clothes covered in mud.
Japanese: 肉に塩を塗す。
Kana: にくに しおを まぶす。
Romaji: Niku ni shio o mabusasu.
English: Sprinkle salt on the meat.
Japanese: 塗り絵で遊ぶのが好きだ。
Kana: ぬりえで あそぶのが すきだ。
Romaji: Nurie de asobu no ga suki da.
English: I like playing with coloring books.
Japanese: ペンキを塗り直す。
Kana: ペンキを ぬりなおす。
Romaji: Penki o nurinaosu.
English: Repaint the paint.
Japanese: この塗料は速乾性です。
Kana: この とりょうは そっかんせい です。
Romaji: Kono toryō wa sokkansei desu.
English: This paint is quick-drying.
Japanese: 新しいペンキで壁を塗装した。
Kana: あたらしい ペンキで かべを とそうした。
Romaji: Atarashii penki de kabe o tosō shita.
English: I painted the wall with new paint.
Japanese: 彼は泥だらけの靴で部屋に入ってきて、床を泥で塗ってしまった。
Kana: かれは どろだらけの くつで へやに はいってきて、ゆかを どろで ぬってしまった。
Romaji: Kare wa dorodarake no kutsu de heya ni haittekite, yuka o doro de nutte shimatta.
English: He came into the room with muddy shoes and smeared mud all over the floor.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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