Japanese dictionary
How to say "paint" in Japanese
塗るぬる · nuru
To "paint" a wall is 塗る (nuru), with ペンキ (penki). To paint a picture is 絵を描く (e o kaku), with 絵の具 (enogu).
▶ plays native audio. Audio on this site plays when you are logged in to your free japanese.ccn.jp account (the same account as Japanese Talk by CCN).
Ways to say "paint" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 塗るぬる · nuru | To paint (a wall); to apply. |
| 描くかく · kaku | To paint; to draw (a picture). |
| ペンキぺんき · penki | Paint (for walls). |
| 絵の具えのぐ · enogu | Paints (for art). |
How to use it
"Wet paint" signs say ペンキ塗りたて (penki nuritate).
描く is also read egaku in writing.
Example sentences
- 壁を白く塗りました。Kabe o shiroku nurimashita.I painted the wall white.
- 週末に絵を描きます。Shūmatsu ni e o kakimasu.I paint on weekends.
- ペンキ塗りたてです。触らないでください。Penki nuritate desu. Sawaranaide kudasai.Wet paint. Please don't touch.
- 子どもが絵の具で絵を描いています。Kodomo ga enogu de e o kaite imasu.My child is painting with paints.
- ドアに青いペンキを塗りました。Doa ni aoi penki o nurimashita.I painted the door blue.
- この絵は有名な画家が描きました。Kono e wa yūmei na gaka ga kakimashita.A famous artist painted this.
Questions
What is the difference between 塗る and 描く?
塗る (nuru) is applying paint to a surface, like a wall. 描く (kaku) is painting or drawing a picture.
What does ペンキ塗りたて mean?
It means "wet paint," a warning sign on freshly painted walls and benches.
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.