Meaning
The kanji 塗 (ぬる, ト) primarily means "to paint," "to coat," "to spread," or "to smear." You'll find it in actions that involve applying a substance to a surface, whether it's paint on a wall, butter on bread, or medicine on skin. This versatile kanji effectively conveys the idea of covering or applying something thinly and evenly over an area.
Its etymology offers interesting insights into its meaning. 塗 is a phono-semantic compound, combining a semantic component that hints at its meaning with a phonetic component that suggests its pronunciation. The left radical is 土 (つち), meaning "earth" or "soil." This component points to materials historically used for coating or covering, such as mud, clay, or plaster. The right part of the kanji is 余 (よ), which originally meant "excess," "remainder," or "to spread out." While 余 primarily acts as the phonetic component here, its original meaning of 'spreading out' also conceptually reinforces the idea of applying a substance broadly. Thus, combining 土 (earth/material) with 余 (spreading/excess) visually represents the act of spreading or applying a material, such as earth or paint, onto a surface.
The visual structure of 塗, with its "earth" radical and "spreading" component, directly reinforces its core meaning of coating or spreading. As a Jōyō Kanji, it's included in the list of kanji for common use. While not assigned a specific elementary school grade, it's generally considered secondary school level (Grade 8). Its 13 strokes indicate a moderate level of structural complexity.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi (Chinese-derived reading) for 塗 is relatively limited compared to its Kun'yomi, primarily read as ト (TO).
ト (TO): This reading appears in compound words, often referring to specialized terms related to painting or coating materials and processes. While less frequent in everyday verbs than the Kun'yomi, it is crucial for specific technical vocabulary.
塗料 (toryō) — paint, coating material. This refers to the liquid substance used for coating.
塗装 (tosō) — painting, coating work, finish. This term describes the act or process of painting, or the resulting finished surface.
塗炭 (totan) — great distress, extreme misery (literally "mud and charcoal," indicating being covered in grime and suffering). Though less common, this word illustrates the kanji's metaphorical use, suggesting being 'smeared' with hardship.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi (native Japanese readings) are far more common and versatile for 塗, particularly for verbs describing the act of painting or spreading.
ぬ.る (nu.ru): This is the most frequently encountered reading. It is used as the transitive verb "to paint," "to spread," or "to apply," describing the action of applying a substance onto a surface.
塗る (nuru) — to paint, to spread, to apply (e.g., paint, butter, medicine).
壁を塗る (kabe o nuru) — to paint a wall.
薬を塗る (kusuri o nuru) — to apply medicine.
ぬ.り (nu.ri): This is often found in noun forms or in compounds, referring to the act of painting, the coating itself, or things related to painting. It can also appear in the masu-stem of the verb 塗る when used in compounds.
塗り薬 (nurigusuri) — ointment, liniment, topical medicine.
塗り絵 (nurie) — coloring book.
上塗り (uwanuri) — topcoat, final coat of paint.
まみ.れる (mami.reru): This reading forms part of the intransitive verb 塗れる, meaning "to be covered in," "to be smeared with," or "to be soiled." It describes a state where something is completely covered by a substance, often implying dirt or something undesirable.
泥まみれ (doromamire) — covered in mud.
血まみれ (chimamire) — covered in blood.
汗まみれ (asemamire) — covered in sweat.
Common Words & Compounds
Explore some common words and compounds using the kanji 塗, categorized for easier learning:
Verbs and Actions
- 塗る (nuru) — to paint, to spread, to apply
- 塗り付ける (nuritsukeru) — to smear on, to apply thickly or roughly
- 塗り直す (nurinaosu) — to repaint, to reapply, to give a fresh coat
- 塗り替える (nurikaeru) — to repaint completely, to change the color by repainting
- 塗り潰す (nuritsubusu) — to paint out, to black out, to cover completely with paint
Nouns and Materials
- 塗料 (toryō) — paint, coating material
- 塗装 (tosō) — painting, coating (the act or the finish)
- 塗り薬 (nurigusuri) — ointment, liniment, topical medicine
- 塗り絵 (nurie) — coloring book, coloring picture
- 上塗り (uwanuri) — topcoat, final coat of paint
- ペンキ塗り (penki-nuri) — painting (with paint), a paint job
States and Conditions
- 泥まみれ (doromamire) — covered in mud, muddy
- 血まみれ (chimamire) — covered in blood, bloody
- 汗まみれ (asemamire) — covered in sweat, sweaty
- 油まみれ (aburamamire) — covered in oil, oily
Example Sentences
彼女はパンにバターを塗って食べた。
Kanojo wa pan ni batā o nutte tabeta.
She spread butter on her bread and ate it.
子供たちは公園で遊んで泥まみれになった。
Kodomo-tachi wa kōen de asonde doromamire ni natta.
The children played in the park and got covered in mud.
医者は患部にこの塗り薬を塗るように言った。
Isha wa kanbu ni kono nurigusuri o nuru yō ni itta.
The doctor told me to apply this ointment to the affected area.
古いテーブルの塗装が剥がれてきたので、塗り直す必要がある。
Furui tēburu no tosō ga hagarete kita node, nurinaosu hitsuyō ga aru.
The old table's paint has peeled off, so it needs to be repainted.
この木材は防腐剤を塗ってあるので、湿気に強いです。
Kono mokuzai wa bōfuzai o nutte aru node, shikke ni tsuyoi desu.
This wood has been treated with preservative, making it resistant to moisture.
壁を白く塗ることで、部屋が明るくなった。
Kabe o shiroku nuru koto de, heya ga akaruku natta.
By painting the wall white, the room became brighter.
彼は職場で一日中働いて、汗まみれで帰ってきた。
Kare wa shokuba de ichinichijū hataraite, asemamire de kaette kita.
He worked all day at the office and came home covered in sweat.
子供向けの塗り絵は集中力を高めるのに役立つ。
Kodomo-muke no nurie wa shūchūryoku o takameru no ni yakudatsu.
Coloring books for children help improve concentration.
車の塗装は、外観だけでなく車体を保護する重要な役割がある。
Kuruma no tosō wa, gaikan dake de naku shatai o hogo suru jūyō na yakuwari ga aru.
Car paint not only enhances the appearance but also plays an important role in protecting the car body.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 塗, consider its two main components: 土 (tsuchi), meaning "earth" or "soil," and 余 (yo), which can mean "excess" or "to spread out." Imagine having an EXCESS (余) amount of EARTH (土) or mud, and you need to SPREAD it out to cover something. Picture a person using their hands to spread a thick layer of mud over a surface to protect or decorate it. This vivid image directly connects the elements to the meaning of "to paint," "to coat," or "to smear." You are spreading an earth-like substance in excess to cover an area.