ペンキ
penki[pẽ̞ŋʲkʲi]
In Japanese, the phrase for paint is ペンキ (penki).
ペンキ is the standard word for house/utility paint.
Meaning: to apply paint to (verb)
Which one should you use?
There are different words for paint depending on the context. ペンキ is the standard term for general-purpose or utility paint. In contrast, ペイント is a loanword from English often used in the context of artistic painting or specific design terminology. For a more technical or professional context, such as referring to industrial coatings or materials, the word 塗料 is used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of painting, use the noun ペンキ followed by the particle を and the verb 塗る.
How do you pronounce it?
penki
Did you know?
- The word ペンキ was borrowed from the Dutch word 'pek' rather than from English.
- When using the verb 塗る 'nuru' to mean 'to paint', it is also the same verb used for applying things like ointment to a wound or cream to the skin.
- In Japanese, the concept of 'painting' can sometimes be expressed through the word 彩る 'irodoru', which means to color or decorate something, focusing on the beauty rather than the act of applying liquid.
Examples in context
- 手にペンキが付いた。My hands are stained with paint.This sentence shows how hands can be stained with ペンキ.Tatoeba #148655 by tommy__san, translation #265904 by CK
- ペンキが剥げてるよ。The paint is off.This sentence describes a situation where the ペンキ is peeling off.Tatoeba #196640 by bunbuku, translation #33819 by AlanF_US
- ペンキを塗らなくちゃ。Gotta paint it.This sentence is used to express the necessity to paint something using ペンキ.Tatoeba #196638 by bunbuku, translation #33816 by Lumi
- 絵の具を買いに行きます。I'm going to buy paint.
- 今日は塗り絵をしましょう！Let's do some coloring today!
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Himari and Daito are renovating an old room together.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔、ペンキを準備してくれた？Daito, penki o junbi shite kureta?Daito, did you prepare the paint?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、もうここに置いてあるよ。Un, mō koko ni oite aru yo.Yeah, it's already here.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう。どの色を使う？Arigatō. Dono iro o tsukau?Thanks. Which color shall we use?
- 大翔 Hiroto白いペンキで塗ろうか。Shiroi penki de nurō ka.Shall we paint it with white paint?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ペンキ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ペンキ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
