Japanese word

書道

Pronunciation

Romajishodō

Meaning

  • nouncalligraphy

Example

私は書道を習っています。watashi wa sho dō o nara tte i ma su

I am learning calligraphy.

Illustration for 書道 (calligraphy)

More examples

わたしは書道を習っています。wa ta shi wa sho dō o nara tte i ma su

I am learning calligraphy.

書道の作品を展覧会に出しました。sho dō no saku hin o ten ran kai ni da shi ma shi ta

I submitted my calligraphy work to an exhibition.

Core concept

Refers to the art of expressing the form and spirit of written characters through controlled brushwork.

Common phrases

  • 書道を習うsho dō o nara u

    learn calligraphy

  • 書道を学ぶsho dō o mana bu

    study calligraphy

Similar words

習字shūji: Practice in writing characters clearly and skillfully, especially with a brush.
書法shohō: A system of techniques for shaping written characters with a brush.

Definition in Japanese

毛筆による文字の書き方を通して、字形の美しさや表現を追求する日本の伝統芸術。mō hitsu ni yo ru moji no ka ki kata o tō shi te ji kei no utsuku shi sa ya hyō gen o tsui kyū su ru nihon no den tō gei jutsu

Word origin

書道 (shodō) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 書 (sho, "writing") and 道 (dō, "way"), so its name presents writing as a practiced discipline.

Usage tips

  • Although calligraphy in English covers many writing traditions, 書道 (shodō) usually points to the Japanese brush-art tradition rather than handwriting in general.

Related words

  • 書道家shodōkacalligraphernoun

Word lists with this word