塗(ぬ)り絵(え)

ぬりえ

noun

coloring picture; coloring book page

1. coloring picture; coloring book page

A pre-printed outline drawing meant to be filled in with colored pencils, markers, or paints. Also refers to the activity itself. Long popular as a children's pastime; adult coloring books became widely popular in the 2010s.

子供(こども)が塗(ぬ)り絵(え)をしている。

The child is doing coloring.

大人(おとな)向(む)けの塗(ぬ)り絵(え)本(ぼん)が流行(はや)っている。

Adult coloring books are popular.

塗(ぬ)り絵(え)は集中力(しゅうちゅうりょく)を高(たか)め、ストレス解消(かいしょう)にもなると言(い)われている。

Coloring is said to improve concentration and also relieve stress.

Compound of 塗(ぬ)る (to paint, to coat) + 絵(え) (picture). The verb stem connects directly to the noun.

Common collocations

塗(ぬ)り絵(え)をする: to do coloring
塗(ぬ)り絵(え)本(ぼん): coloring book
大人(おとな)の塗(ぬ)り絵(え): adult coloring (book/page)
キャラクターの塗(ぬ)り絵(え): character coloring pages

Cultural note

A standard preschool and early-elementary activity. The adult-coloring boom in Japan, partly imported from Europe, brought intricate mandala-style and floral books to mainstream bookstores. 塗(ぬ)り絵(え)療法(りょうほう) (coloring therapy) is sometimes used in mental-health and elderly-care settings.

Related Words

Related: 塗(ぬ)る (to paint, to apply)

general

Added 2026.6.6 13:04 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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