硯

• 読み: すずり
• ローマ字: suzuri
• 漢字の分解: 石 (ishi/seki) — stone; 見 (ken/mi-) — see (phonetic component)
• 発音: /sɯ.zɯ.ɾi/

意味

Inkstone; ink slab. A flat stone or ceramic tablet used for grinding an ink stick with water to produce calligraphy ink.

An essential tool in traditional East Asian calligraphy and painting. Together with 筆 (brush), 墨 (ink stick), and 紙 (paper), it forms the 文房四宝 (four treasures of the study). The quality of a 硯 significantly affects the fineness of the ink produced — prized stones such as those from Duanxi (端渓) in China are highly valued as heirlooms. In Japanese culture, a fine 硯 is associated with scholarly refinement.

例文

1. 祖父から受け継いだ硯は、使うたびに歴史の重みを感じる。
2. 書道の授業で初めて硯を使い、墨を丁寧に磨った。
3. 名品の硯は芸術品として美術館に展示されることもある。

使い方ガイド

場面: calligraphy, classical arts, antiques

トーン: refined

起源と歴史

The Japanese word すずり is of native origin; the kanji 硯 (a Chinese character meaning 'inkstone') was applied phonetically. The kanji is composed of 石 (stone) and 見 (see), possibly alluding to the reflective, mirror-like surface of a polished inkstone.

文化的背景

時代: Ancient

世代: Traditional arts practitioners

社会的背景: Cultural