墨(すみ)

すみ

noun

ink, India ink, sumi

See also: 炭(すみ) (charcoal)

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.

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 words

硯(すずり): inkstone
筆(ふで): brush
書道(しょどう): calligraphy

Related Words

Related: 書道(しょどう) (calligraphy)

Related: 筆(ふで) (writing brush)

Related: 硯(すずり) (inkstone)

Related: インク (ink)

general

Added 2026.1.9 21:27 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

02000/02155_sumi