墨汁(ぼくじゅう)

ぼくじゅう
noun
liquid ink, India ink
technicaltool
1. liquid India ink, bottled sumi ink
Pre-made liquid ink used for calligraphy (書道) and ink painting (水墨画). A convenient alternative to grinding an ink stick on an inkstone.
墨汁(ぼくじゅう)を筆(ふで)につけた。
I dipped the brush in the ink.
書道(しょどう)の授業(じゅぎょう)で墨汁(ぼくじゅう)を使(つか)う。
We use liquid ink in calligraphy class.
服(ふく)に墨汁(ぼくじゅう)がついてしまい、洗(あら)っても落(お)ちなかった。
I got ink on my clothes and it wouldn't come out even after washing.

Pre-made liquid ink used for 書道(しょどう) (calligraphy) and 水墨画(すいぼくが) (ink painting). A convenient modern alternative to the traditional method of grinding ink.

Cultural note

In Japanese schools, students use 墨汁(ぼくじゅう) in 書道(しょどう) class. Traditionally, ink was prepared by grinding an 墨(すみ) (ink stick) on a 硯(すずり) (inkstone) with water, but bottled 墨汁(ぼくじゅう) is far more convenient and is standard today.

Common collocations

  • 墨汁(ぼくじゅう)をつける: to apply ink (to a brush)
  • 墨汁(ぼくじゅう)がこぼれる: the ink spills
  • 墨汁(ぼくじゅう)のしみ: an ink stain

Related words

Related Words

Related: 硯(すずり) (inkstone)
Related: 筆(ふで) (writing brush)
Related: インク (ink)
Compare: 濃墨 (dark ink)
general
Added 2026.3.19 8:10 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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