書道
shodō[ɕo̞do̞ː]
Calligraphy in Japanese is 書道 (shodō). If unsure, use 書道. Wiktionary also lists 書法 (shohō) and カリグラフィー (karigurafī).
Meaning: art of writing beautifully (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 書道 | shodō | [ɕo̞do̞ː] (narrow) |
| 書法 | shohō | [ɕo̞ho̞ː] (narrow) |
| カリグラフィー | karigurafī | [ka̠ɾʲiɡɯ̟ɾa̠ɸʲiː] (narrow) |
| 習字 | shūji | [ɕɨːʑi] (narrow) |
The term calligraphy can be translated in several ways depending on whether you are referring to traditional East Asian brushwork, Western styles or basic handwriting practice.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 書道 (shodō) is composed of 書 (write) and 道 (way/path), literally meaning 'the way of writing'.
Which one should you use?
書道 (shodō) refers specifically to traditional East Asian brush calligraphy. In contrast, カリグラフィー (karigurafī) is a loanword used specifically for Western-style calligraphy. 習字 (shūji) is a more casual term often used to describe practicing handwriting or calligraphy as a basic skill or a school subject.
How do you pronounce it?
shodō
Did you know?
- The character 道 in 書道 is the same word used in 柔道 (judo) and 剣道 (kendo), framing calligraphy as a martial art for the mind rather than just a craft.
- Unlike カリグラフィー, which focuses on the visual beauty of the letter, 書道 considers the 'white space' or emptiness around the ink to be as important as the strokes themselves.
- Traditional 書道 is performed using the 'four treasures of the study', which are the brush, inkstick, inkstone and paper.
Examples in context
- 書道って、得意？Are you good at calligraphy?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's skill in 書道.Tatoeba #11621736 by small_snow, translation #10372267 by DaoSeng
- 趣味は空手と書道です。My hobbies are karate and calligraphy.This sentence is useful for listing 書道 as a hobby.Tatoeba #3400726 by tommy_san, translation #7766730 by metcaslix
- 書道は少しかじったことがある。I know a bit about calligraphy.This sentence is useful for mentioning a basic level of experience with 書道.Tatoeba #11238621 by small_snow, translation #11238616 by DJ_Saidez
- 私は書道を学んでいます。I am learning calligraphy.
- あの美しい書道作品を見てください。Please take a look at that beautiful calligraphy piece.
- この書は本格的な墨蹟です。This piece of calligraphy is an authentic ink trace.
- 日本の墨蹟は芸術的な価値が高いです。Japanese ink traces hold high artistic value.
- 私は毎年、書初めを書くのが好きです。I enjoy writing Kakizome every year.
- 書初めの練習をしましょうか？Shall we practice Kakizome?
- 習字を通じて集中力を高めることができます。Practicing calligraphy can help improve concentration.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori and Kenta are talking about their school classes.
- 陽葵 Himari今日の放課後、書道があるんだ。Kyō no hōkago, shodō ga arunda.I have calligraphy after school today.
- 健太 Kentaいいな。書道は難しそうだけど、かっこいいよね。Ii na. Shodō wa muzukashisō dakedo, kakkoii yone.That's nice. Calligraphy seems difficult, but it's cool, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariうん。でも、練習するのは大変だよ。Un. Demo, renshū suru no wa taihen dayo.Yeah. But practicing is hard.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵なら、きっと上手になるよ。Hiyori nara, kitto jōzu ni naru yo.If it's you, Hiyori, I'm sure you'll get good at it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “calligraphy” translations and entries 書道, 書法, カリグラフィー, 習字, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
