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Kotomora

塗

paint, plaster, daub, smear, coating

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ト

Kun'yomi

  • ぬ.る
  • ぬ.り
  • まみ.れる

Meaning

塗 centers on applying a substance to cover a surface: painting, plastering, daubing, smearing, or coating. The meanings all share the idea of spreading something over an area.

Most common words using 塗

20 of 109
  • 塗るぬる
    N4

    to paint; to spread; to plaster; to apply (cream, lotion); to smear; to lacquer; to varnish; to put up (wallpaper)

  • 塗りぬり

    coating (esp. lacquering)

  • 塗装とそう
    N1

    coating; painting

  • 塗れるまみれる

    to be smeared; to be covered

  • 塗料とりょう

    paint; coating; varnish

  • 塗みどろ

    covered with; stained; smeared

  • 塗布とふ

    application (of ointment, etc.)

  • 塗り絵ぬりえ

    picture for coloring in (colouring)

  • 塗り替えるぬりかえる

    to repaint; to paint again; to paint (a different colour)

  • 上塗りうわぬり

    final coat (of paint, plaster, varnish, etc.); finish; glazing

  • 塗りつぶしぬりつぶし

    blotting out

  • 血塗るちぬる

    to smear with blood; to kill

  • 下塗りしたぬり

    undercoat; first coating

  • 塗り薬ぬりぐすり

    medical cream; ointment; salve; liniment

  • 塗りつぶすぬりつぶす

    to paint over; to paint out; to fill in; to cover completely (with paint)

  • 塗すまぶす

    to cover (with); to smear; to sprinkle

  • 糊塗こと

    patching up (e.g. a failure); covering up (e.g. a mistake); glossing over

  • 漆塗りうるしぬり

    lacquering; lacquer ware

  • 黒塗りくろぬり

    blackened; black-painted; black-lacquered; blacked out

  • 顔に泥を塗るかおにどろをぬる
    N1

    to bring disgrace (dishonor, dishonour) on; to fling mud at; to put to shame

Explore all words using 塗 →

Study

Etymology

塗 combines 涂 (which historically relates to a path or waterway) with 土 (earth), suggesting the act of applying mud or plaster to a surface. The modern meaning extends to painting and coating.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 涂 looks like a brush or tool spreading something, and the bottom 土 is earth or clay. Imagine using a brush to spread wet clay over a wall: that's painting or plastering.

Reading mnemonic

For ト, picture a toe (ト) dipped in paint, smearing color across the floor. The toe sound cues ト while the action matches the coating meaning.