墨（すみ）
JLPT N1 · noun
Pitch accent: odaka (tail-high) — high to the end, drops on a following particle (accent on mora 2)
Meaning: ink stick/ink
Example sentences
- 墨をすって書道の準備をする。 — To grind the ink and prepare for calligraphy.
- 墨の香りが心を落ち着ける。 — The scent of the ink calms the mind.
Idioms & proverbs containing “墨”
- 墨に染まれば黒くなる (すみにそまればくろくなる) — people are formed by their surroundings; walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble; that which is dyed with ink becomes black
- 墨は餓鬼に磨らせ、筆は鬼に持たせよ (すみはがきにすらせ、ふではおににもたせよ) — grind your inkstick gently but move your brush vigorously; let the hungry ghost grind your inkstick, let the ogre hold your brush
- 文人墨客 (ぶんじんぼっかく) — writers and artists; persons who take delight in such refined pursuits as poetry, literature, painting and calligraphy
- 旧套墨守 (きゅうとうぼくしゅ) — clinging to old customs; adhering to old traditions
- 墨痕淋漓 (ぼっこんりんり) — in bold, vivid brush strokes
- 雪と墨 (ゆきとすみ) — diametric opposites; night and day; black and white; snow and ink
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “墨” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)