墨(すみ)

すみ
noun
ink, India ink, sumi
1. ink, India ink
Black ink made from soot, used in calligraphy and painting.
墨(すみ)を摺(す)る。
To grind ink (on an inkstone).
墨(すみ)で字(じ)を書(か)く。
To write characters with ink.
書道(しょどう)の時間(じかん)に墨(すみ)を摺(す)って筆(ふで)で書(か)いた。
During calligraphy class, I ground ink and wrote with a brush.

墨(すみ) is traditional East Asian ink, made from soot and used for calligraphy and painting.

TRADITIONAL USAGE:
Traditional 墨(すみ) comes in solid sticks that are ground on an inkstone (硯(すずり)) with water. This process is called 墨(すみ)を摺(す)る.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 墨汁(ぼくじゅう): liquid ink (pre-made)
  • 水墨画(すいぼくが): ink wash painting
  • 墨絵(すみえ): ink painting
  • 墨書(ぼくしょ): writing in ink

RELATED:

  • 硯(すずり): inkstone
  • 筆(ふで): brush
  • 書道(しょどう): calligraphy
general
Added 2026.1.9 21:27 · Revised 2026.2.22 9:04
02000/02155_sumi