Translation guide
The English word "paint" covers both the artistic medium and the action of applying it. In Japanese, these are distinct words. This guide helps you choose the right one based on context.
Referring to paint as a substance used for art or decoration.
General term for artist's paint (watercolor, oil, acrylic, etc.). Used in art contexts.
新しい絵の具を買いました。
I bought new paints.
Paint for walls, cars, industrial use. Not for art.
Oil-based paint for houses, fences, etc. Common in DIY contexts.
The act of covering a surface with paint.
General verb for applying paint, cream, ointment, etc. Transitive.
The act of producing a painting as an artwork.
The most common way to say "paint a picture." Uses 描く (to draw/paint).
週末はよく絵を描いています。
I often paint on weekends.
Applying makeup or nail polish.
Same verb as for paint; used for creams, lipstick, nail polish.
To depict or portray something in words.
To describe or portray vividly, like painting a picture with words.
彼はその場面を生々しく描写した。
He painted a vivid picture of the scene.
塗る (nuru) is for applying paint to a surface (walls, nails, etc.). 描く (egaku/kaku) is for creating an image or picture. If you say 壁を描く, it means you drew on the wall, not painted it.
The loanword ペイント (peinto) is mainly used in computing (e.g., Microsoft Paint) or as part of compound words like ペイントソフト. It is not natural for physical paint or the action of painting.
The paint on the wall is peeling.
Once the paint dries, please apply another coat.
壁を白く塗った。
I painted the wall white.
To paint a picture or create an image. Used for artistic painting.
彼女は風景を描くのが好きです。
She likes to paint landscapes.
To color or paint (especially adding color to a drawing). More formal/literary.
下絵に彩色する。
To paint over a sketch.
Specifically painting in oils.
彼は油絵を描くのが上手だ。
He is good at painting in oils.
口紅を塗る。
To put on lipstick.
To apply nail polish.
昨日マニキュアを塗った。
I painted my nails yesterday.
To depict or bring to life through description.
小説は当時の社会をリアルに描き出している。
The novel paints a realistic picture of society at that time.