塗る

• Reading: ぬる
• Romaji: nuru
• Kanji breakdown: 塗 (to/nu) — paint, plaster, apply
• Pronunciation: /nɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To paint; to plaster; to apply; to spread. Describes coating a surface with a substance.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the る row. Used for painting walls, applying medicine or cream, spreading butter on bread, and applying nail polish. Very physical and tactile in nuance.

Examples

1. 壁を白いペンキで塗りました。 I painted the wall with white paint.
2. パンにバターを塗って食べる。 I spread butter on bread and eat it.
3. 日焼け止めを塗ってから外に出よう。 Let's put on sunscreen before going outside.

Usage Guide

Context: DIY, cooking, skincare

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 塗 combines 土 (earth/soil) and 余 (surplus), suggesting smearing earth or clay onto surfaces. The meaning broadened to all forms of coating and application.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal