Skip to content
道Nihongo Path
漆

漆·lacquer

On-yomi
シツ
Kun-yomi
うるし

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

14 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
漆うるしlacquer, lacquer tree
漆器しっきlacquerware
漆黒しっこくjet black
漆塗りうるしぬりlacquer coating, lacquered

Example sentences

  1. この椀は漆で塗られている。

    このわんはうるしでぬられている。

    This bowl is coated with lacquer.

  2. 漆器は湿気に強いと言われる。

    しっきはしっけにつよいといわれる。

    Lacquerware is said to hold up well against humidity.

  3. 漆黒の夜空に星が光っていた。

    しっこくのよぞらにほしがひかっていた。

    Stars shone in the jet-black night sky.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 漆器 as うるしき — in compounds it is シツ, and here it becomes しっき
  • Writing 膝 for 漆 because of the shared right half

Memory aid

Picture it

Water (氵) drawn from a tree — sap that bleeds out of the trunk and hardens into a glossy coat.

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 漆 mean?