How to say "scarlet" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 赤あかno-adjectiveThe plain noun for red. Its scarlet sense is really just red taken broadly, so reach for it when you simply mean red and the exact vivid shade is not at issue.
- 赤いあかいi-adjectiveThe adjective for red, used wherever English would say something is red. It can convey scarlet when a vivid red is meant, though it does not by itself single out the scarlet hue.
- nounThe direct borrowing of 'scarlet', naming the brilliant red with an orange tinge. Use it when that specific shade is meant, as in describing clothes, flowers or makeup.
- 朱あけno-adjectiveA noun for vermilion and cinnabar, the orange-red of those pigments. Its scarlet sense is secondary, so it suits shades that lean toward vermilion rather than plain red.
For scarlet as a specific color name use 「スカーレット」; 赤 and 「赤い」 cover it only loosely as red, noun and adjective respectively; 朱 is really a vermilion and cinnabar word.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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