Kanji Detail for 塑 - "model, mold"

塑

Jōyō Kanji

JLPT N1

Meaning

塑 means "model, mold." Also associated with to create.
1. Model - To shape with clay; to sculpt.
2. Mold - To form into a particular shape.
3. Create - To bring into being through artistic effort.
Tattoo check: 塑
- Verified meaning: model, mold
- Official Jōyō kanji — a standard character every Japanese reader recognises
- Also carries these associations: to create
A single kanji rarely maps one-to-one onto an English word. Read the meanings and associations above as a set — a character that fits the dictionary definition can still carry a connotation you did not intend.
Dictionary Citations

The meaning above is based on the following sources:

KANJIDIC2 A comprehensive Japanese-English kanji dictionary

model; molding

Unihan Unicode Han Database for CJK characters

model in clay, sculpt; plastics

CC-CEDICT A Chinese-English dictionary

to model (a figure) in clay; (bound form) plastic (i.e. the synthetic material)

Make Me a Hanzi Open-source Chinese character data

to sculpt, to model in clay; plastic

XSZD Xuéshēng Zìdiǎn (學生字典) - Student's Dictionary

Molding earth to make shapes. Hence images of deities and Buddhas made of earth are all called 塑.
Onyomi

so(ソ)
Kunyomi

deku(でく)
Strokes

13 strokes
Radical

土 (tsuchi・tsuchihen・dohen)
Related Keywords

model mold to create crafting puppet sculpting sculpture art carving cast clay design fabrication figure generate plastic produce prototype resin shape

彼は柔らかい粘土で小さな塑像を作った。
He made a little statue out of soft clay.
一人物と馬丁が騎馬で一月一日に牛小屋に至たりました。だから数奇屋のなかで、可塑物の大口が一つだけあります。
One important person and the stable boy arrived to the cow cabin the first of January. Therefore, there is only one plastic bowl left at the tea ceremony arbor.