Translation guide
Describes something that has a slight amount of a color, feeling, or quality mixed in. In Japanese, this is often expressed with verbs like 帯びる (obiru), 混じる (majiru), or suffixes like ～がかる (~gakaru). The choice depends on what is being tinged and the nuance.
To describe something that has a slight hint of a color, often a subtle or faint shade.
A versatile verb meaning 'to be tinged with' or 'to have a touch of'. Commonly used for colors, but also for abstract qualities. Often used in the form ～を帯びた (modifying a noun).
A sky tinged with red
Her cheeks were faintly tinged with red.
A suffix attached to color nouns to mean 'tinged with' or 'slightly ~ish'. Produces a -i adjective. Common in descriptive language.
A blue tinged with green
The wall was tinged with gray.
Means 'to be mixed with'. Used when a color is mixed in, often implying a visible blend. Intransitive verb.
The white is tinged with a little blue.
Attached to a color name to indicate a hint of that color. More colloquial and less formal than 帯びる.
This paint is a little tinged with blue, isn't it?
To describe a feeling, tone, or atmosphere that has a slight amount of an emotion or abstract quality, such as sadness, irony, or hope.
Also used for abstract qualities. Very common in written Japanese to describe a nuance or undertone.
His voice was tinged with sadness.
Can be used for emotions or qualities that are mixed in, often implying a combination rather than a subtle tinge.
A suffix meaning 'slightly ~' or 'a touch of ~'. Often used for negative tendencies or states. Attaches to nouns or verb stems.
He is a bit tinged with fatigue. (He looks a little tired.)
Literally 'the color of ~ is deep', used metaphorically to mean strongly tinged with a quality. More emphatic than a subtle tinge.
To describe a food, drink, or scent that has a slight hint of a particular flavor or aroma.
Means 'to have a flavor of'. Often used with a specific ingredient or note. Can be modified with ほのかな (faint) to emphasize a tinge.
This tea is tinged with a faint citrus flavor.
Means 'to have a scent of'. Used for smells. Add ほのかな (faint) to express a tinge.
The flower is tinged with a faint sweet scent.
Borrowed from English 'nuance', used in food/drink descriptions to mean 'has a nuance of'. Common in reviews and menus.
This wine is tinged with a nuance of berries.
帯びる (obiru) is the most standard and versatile for both colors and abstract qualities. がかる (gakaru) is specifically for colors and creates an adjective. 混じる (majiru) implies a visible or tangible mixture, often with a stronger presence than a mere tinge.
Sky tinged with red (obiru: subtle, literary) vs. reddish sky (gakaru: descriptive) vs. sky mixed with red (majiru: more distinct red patches)
The verb 染まる (somaru) means 'to be dyed' or 'to be deeply colored', not 'tinged'. Using it for a subtle tinge would be unnatural. Reserve 染まる for strong, pervasive coloring (e.g., 夕日に染まる空 'sky dyed in the setting sun').
The words were tinged with sarcasm.
彼の笑顔には少し寂しさが混じっていた。
His smile was tinged with a little loneliness.
The story was tinged with pessimism.
His works are deeply tinged with death.