paint

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 塗 means painting or applying a coating; its kun-reading is ぬる and its on-reading is と.
• Basic usage: 塗る(ぬる) is the verb to paint, while 塗料(とりょう) is the paint or coating used as material.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The action of painting and the coating material
  • 塗りました is the polite past form meaning painted. It is a form of 塗る, used for actions such as painting a chair or wall.
  • 余った塗料 means leftover paint. Whereas English paint can name both an action and a material, the Japanese here distinguishes the verb 塗る from the material noun 塗料.