1.
chalk
A stick of calcium carbonate or gypsum used for writing on blackboards. The standard word for classroom chalk in Japanese.
A loanword from English "chalk." This is the standard word used in Japanese schools. Although many Japanese classrooms have shifted to whiteboards and markers, chalk and blackboards remain common, especially in public schools.
Common collocations
- チョークで書く: to write with chalk
- チョークの粉: chalk dust
- 色チョーク: colored chalk
- チョークを持つ: to hold chalk
- チョーク入れ: chalk holder/case
Similar words
- 白墨: chalk — the Sino-Japanese term; formal and somewhat old-fashioned
- マーカー: marker — used on whiteboards, the modern alternative
Cultural note
The phrase チョーク芸 (chalk art) refers to the skill of drawing impressive diagrams or illustrations on a blackboard, valued among Japanese teachers.