塑 means “model, mold (in clay)”

そ · so

Also: molding

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

でく

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ソ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 13 strokes

The story

Earth (土) under 朔, the new moon: picture clay shaped out of nothing, the way the moon is remade each month. 塑 is modeling in something soft: a 塑像 is a clay figure, and 可塑性, plasticity, describes clay, plastics and a young brain that can still rewire itself.

Used in 塑像 (sozou, clay figure), 彫塑 (chouso, sculpture), and 可塑性 (kasosei, plasticity)

More from Copies & Models

• 模 model
• 仮 temporary
• 範 model
• 肖 likeness
• 擬 mimic
• 矯 straighten
• 謄 copy
• 抄 excerpt
• 倣 imitate

Learn 塑 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.