塗る
nuru[nɯ̟ɾɯ̟]
To paint in Japanese is 塗る (nuru).
塗る is used broadly for the physical act of applying any liquid or semi-liquid substance to a surface. This includes coating things with paint, glue, cream or ointment.
Which one should you use?
There is an important distinction between physical application and artistic creation. While 塗る refers to the physical act of coating a surface with a substance, 描く (kaku) is used when you are referring to the artistic act of painting a picture or drawing a line.
How do you pronounce it?
nuru
Did you know?
- The verb 塗る is also used for the domestic task of spreading butter on toast or jam on bread. In Japanese, these culinary actions are treated with the same linguistic structure as coating a house with lacquer or oil.
- Because 塗る is used for any liquid application, it is the standard verb used for applying sunscreen or lotion to your skin. If you told a Japanese person you were 'painting' your skin, they would understand the physical action through this verb.
- In the traditional craft of lacquerware, the process of applying the coating is known as 漆塗り (urushi-nuri), where the noun form of 'to coat' becomes part of the craft name.
Examples in context
- 壁にペンキを塗るんです。We're going to paint the wall.This sentence shows how to use 塗る to describe painting a wall.Tatoeba #10275155 by bunbuku, translation #320275 by CK
- 塀にペンキを塗る必要はなかった。I didn't need to paint the fence.This sentence demonstrates the use of 塗る regarding a fence.Tatoeba #196865 by bunbuku, translation #34044 by CK
- フェンスにペンキを塗る必要はなかった。There was no need to paint the fence.This sentence also uses 塗る in the context of a fence.Tatoeba #1097015 by bunbuku, translation #12166278 by CK
- 私は絵を描くのが好きです (Watashi wa e o kaku no ga suki desu)I like to paint.
- 彼は素晴らしい絵画を制作しています (Kare wa subarashii kaiga o seisaku shite imasu)He is producing wonderful paintings.
- 友達と絵を描くのが楽しい！(Tomodachi to e o kaku no ga tanoshii!)It's fun to paint with friends!
- 絵を描くのが得意ですか？(E o kaku no ga tokui desu ka?)Are you good at painting?
- はい、趣味で絵を描くのが好きなんです。(Hai, shumi de e o kaku no ga suki nan desu.)Yes, I enjoy painting as a hobby.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are renovating a room together.
- 結衣 Yui健太、ここを青く塗ってくれる？Kenta, koko o aoku nutte kureru?Kenta, can you paint this part blue?
- 健太 Kentaいいよ。どこを塗ればいい？Ii yo. Doko o nureba ii?Sure. Where should I paint?
- 結衣 Yuiこの壁の端を塗ってください。Kono kabe no hashi o nutte kudasai.Please paint the edge of this wall.
- 健太 Kentaわかった。すぐに塗るね。Wakatta. Sugu ni nuru ne.Got it. I'll paint it right away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 塗る, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
