着色|ちゃくしょくchakushoku[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectivecolouring; coloring; colorant
Conjugation
Dictionary form着色する(ちゃくしょくする)
Polite (masu)着色します(ちゃくしょくします)
Negative (nai)着色しない(ちゃくしょくしない)
polite (masen)着色しません(ちゃくしょくしません)
classical zu / nu着色せず・着色せぬ(ちゃくしょくせず・ちゃくしょくせぬ)
Past (ta)着色した(ちゃくしょくした)
polite (mashita)着色しました(ちゃくしょくしました)
Past negative (nakatta)着色しなかった(ちゃくしょくしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)着色しませんでした(ちゃくしょくしませんでした)
Te form着色して(ちゃくしょくして)
Potential着色できる(ちゃくしょくできる)
Passive着色される(ちゃくしょくされる)
Causative着色させる(ちゃくしょくさせる)
Causative passive着色させられる(ちゃくしょくさせられる)
Conditional (ba)着色すれば(ちゃくしょくすれば)
tara着色したら(ちゃくしょくしたら)
Volitional着色しよう(ちゃくしょくしよう)
polite (mashou)着色しましょう(ちゃくしょくしましょう)
Imperative着色しろ(ちゃくしょくしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym彩るいろどるNeutralCovers adorning or adding flair, and even applying make-up, as in 「花が庭を彩る」; 「着色」 is strictly about applying colour.
  • Synonym彩りいろどりNeutralA noun for colour coordination or a touch of colour, as in 「料理の彩り」; 「着色」 names the act of colouring something.
  • Synonym彩色さいしきWrittenWritten/formal prose term for colouring paintings, Buddhist statues, sculptures and crafts, as in 「仏像に彩色する」; 「着色」 is also common for food.
  • Synonym染めるそめるNeutralMeans dyeing fabric, hair and the like with dye, and can describe light tinting the sky, as in 「夕日が空を染める」; 「着色」 is colouring in general.
  • Synonym塗るぬるNeutralThe everyday verb for spreading or applying paint, ointment and the like; 「着色」 centres on something taking on colour.
  • Synonym色付けいろづけNeutralA native noun for adding colour, also used figuratively for adding a distinctive touch; 「着色」 is a Sino-Japanese term for food, pictures and the like.
  • Synonym色付けるいろづけるNeutralA native verb meaning to add colour to something; 「着色」 is a Sino-Japanese noun that can also be used as 「着色する」.
  • Related塗装とそうNeutralRefers to spray-painting or coating cars and walls; 「着色」 centres on something taking on colour.
  • Antonym脱色だっしょくNeutralThe opposite of 「着色」 on the add-colour/remove-colour axis; it means removing or fading colour.
  • Antonym漂白ひょうはくNeutralAlso the opposite of 「着色」 on the add-colour/remove-colour axis; it means bleaching.

Use 「着色」 for colouring food, pictures and objects, as in 「着色料」 or 「絵に着色する」. For dyeing fabric or hair pick 「染める」, for spray-painting cars or walls 「塗装」, for adorning or garnishing 「彩る」 and 「彩り」, and for colouring paintings, statues or crafts in formal prose 「彩色」. 「脱色」 and 「漂白」 are the opposites, for removing colour.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 色いろを着つけること。また、色いろが着ついていること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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