Skip to content
Kotomora

塑

model, molding

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolStrokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソ

Kun'yomi

  • でく

Meaning

塑 centers on shaping a soft material into a desired form: modeling clay or other substances, and by extension the process of molding something into a new shape.

Most common words using 塑

20 of 25
  • 可塑かそ

    moldable; plastic

  • 彫塑ちょうそ

    carving; engraving

  • 可塑剤かそざい

    plasticizer; plasticiser

  • 可塑性かそせい

    plasticity

  • 可塑性物質かそせいぶっしつ

    plastic materials

  • 可塑材かそざい

    plastic material

  • 可塑物かそぶつ

    plastics

  • 可塑物質かそぶっしつ

    plastics

  • 塑像そぞう

    plaster image; clay figure

  • 塑弾性そだんせい

    plasto-elasticity

  • 塑性そせい

    plasticity

  • 塑性変形そせいへんけい

    plastic deformation

  • 塑性指数そせいしすう

    plasticity index

  • 塑性限界そせいげんかい

    plastic limit

  • 塑造そぞう

    molding; moulding; modeling; modelling

  • 彫塑術ちょうそじゅつ

    the plastic art

  • 桐塑とうそ

    tōso; paste made from paulownia sawdust and wheat starch (used in traditional doll-making, etc.)

  • 泥塑でいそ

    unfired clay figurine

  • 熱可塑ねつかそ

    moldable when heated; thermoplastic

  • 熱可塑性ねつかそせい

    thermoplasticity

Explore all words using 塑 →

Study

Etymology

塑 combines 朔 (which likely contributes the sound ソ) with 土 (earth, clay), suggesting shaping clay or earth into a model.

Meaning mnemonic

The top part 朔 looks like a hand shaping something, and the bottom 土 is clay. Picture hands pressing and smoothing soft clay into a model.

Reading mnemonic

For ソ, imagine a sculptor saying 'so' as they smooth the clay: so -> ソ, and the clay becomes a perfect model.