How to say "colour" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 色いろnounThe basic noun for the colour of something, and for hues and tints generally. Use it whenever you simply want to say or ask what colour a thing is.
- nounThe katakana loanword, overlapping with 色 as a noun. It is the form you meet in design, fashion, printing and product names, where an English-derived term comes naturally.
- 色彩しきさいnounA noun for colour as a quality or overall effect — the colouring of a painting, the hues of a landscape — rather than the colour of a single object; it suits discussion of art and design.
- 彩るいろどるgodan verb, transitive verbA verb: to colour something in the sense of adding colour or adornment — autumn leaves colouring a hillside — and, often figuratively, to lend sparkle or charm to an occasion or to life.
- 染めるそめるichidan verb, transitive verbThe verb for colouring a material by dyeing or staining it — cloth, thread, hair. It can also describe one thing steeping another in colour, as when sunset colours the sky.
Use 色 as the basic noun for colour, 「カラー」 as the loanword in design and product contexts, 色彩 for colour as an abstract quality, 「彩る」 for adding colour or figurative sparkle, and 「染める」 for dyeing.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 色いろcolour
- カラーcolor
- 色彩しきさいcolour
- 彩るいろどるto colour
- 染めるそめるto dye
- 血色けっしょくcomplexion
- 血の気ちのけblood (in one's face, cheeks, etc.)
- 色めくいろめくto colour
- 色付けるいろづけるto colour
- 絵取るえどるto color
- 色味いろみshade
- 色艶いろつやcolour and lustre
- 呈色ていしょくcoloration
- さすto put on (lipstick, etc.)
- 顔料がんりょうpaint
- 艶つやinterest
- 色しょくcolor
- 彩りいろどり(touch of) colour
- 差すさすto put on (lipstick, etc.)
See also
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