Skip to content
道Nihongo Path
塑

塑·model, mold, sculpt in clay

On-yomi
ソ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
塑像そぞうclay figure, modeled statue
可塑性かそせいplasticity
彫塑ちょうそcarving and modeling, sculpture
塑造そぞうmodeling, plastic art

Example sentences

  1. 粘土で塑像を作る授業を受けた。

    ねんどでそぞうをつくるじゅぎょうをうけた。

    I took a class on making clay figures.

  2. このプラスチックは可塑性が高い。

    このプラスチックはかそせいがたかい。

    This plastic has high plasticity.

  3. 熱を加えると可塑性が増して形を変えやすくなる。

    ねつをくわえるとかそせいがましてかたちをかえやすくなる。

    Heating it increases its plasticity and makes it easier to reshape.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

  • 塑朔朔 (サク, new moon) is the top half of 塑; 塑 puts 土 'earth' underneath, giving clay you press into shape.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 可塑性 as かそくせい — there is no く
  • Confusing 塑 with 遡 (さかのぼる) — both take 朔, but 遡 has the road radical 辶

Memory aid

Picture it

Earth (土) under 朔 'go back to the start' — clay you can always push back to the beginning and remold.

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 塑 mean?