How do you say "ink" in Japanese?

インク

inku

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "ink" is インク (inku).

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Pronunciation

インク is written using katakana. Romanised as inku, it sounds roughly like "ee-n-koo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Inku is katakana directly from English ink. This simple loanword entered Japanese alongside writing tools and printing technology.

Example sentence

インクを使います。

Inku wo tsukaimasu.

I use the ink.

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How to remember インク

Ink sounds the same in English and Japanese. It's the same word borrowed across languages.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more office words.

Questions about インク

How do you pronounce インク?

インク is romanised as inku. Say it roughly like "ee-n-koo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is インク formal or casual?

インク is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is インク written in Japanese?

インク is written using katakana. Inku is katakana directly from English ink.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Ink" in other languages

Curated by Jack Ratcliffe

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Japanese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation.

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