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Kotomora

抹

rub, paint, erase

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • マツ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

抹 centers on applying something to a surface and then spreading or removing it: rubbing on paint, smearing, or wiping away until erased.

Most common words using 抹

  • 抹茶まっちゃ

    matcha; powdered green tea

  • 抹消まっしょう
    N1

    erasure; striking off; crossing out; cancellation; deletion

  • 抹殺まっさつ

    erasure; obliteration

  • 一抹いちまつ

    a touch (of sadness, unease, etc.); a tinge (of); a hint (of); a wreath (of smoke, cloud, etc.)

  • 抹香鯨まっこうくじら

    sperm whale

  • 塗抹とまつ

    smear; daub; coating over

  • 小川小抹香おがわこまっこう

    dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima)

  • 小抹香こまっこう

    pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps)

  • 抹消登録証明書まっしょうとうろくしょうめいしょ

    proof of vehicle having been registered as disposed of

  • 抹茶アイスクリームまっちゃアイスクリーム

    green tea ice cream

  • 抹茶味まっちゃあじ

    matcha flavor

  • 抹茶塩まっちゃじお

    matcha salt; salt mixed with powdered green tea

  • 抹茶色まっちゃいろ

    soft yellow-green; subdued pea green; tea green

  • 抹額まっこう

    red headband (worn by lower rank officers)

  • 抹香まっこう

    incense; incense powder

  • 抹香臭いまっこうくさい

    smelling of incense; overly pious

  • 登録抹消とうろくまっしょう

    deregistration; cancellation of registration

Explore all words using 抹 →

Study

Etymology

抹 combines 扌 (hand) with 末, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of an end or tip, suggesting a hand wiping something away to its end.

Meaning mnemonic

A hand 扌 beside 末 (end/tip) suggests using your hand to rub something until it's gone—painting, smearing, or erasing.

Reading mnemonic

For マツ, imagine rubbing a mat clean: mat -> マツ, and your hand erases the dirt.