Translation guide
The color brown in Japanese is most commonly expressed with 茶色 (chairo), literally 'tea color'. There are also specific terms for different shades and contexts, such as 褐色 for darker or formal browns, and 栗色 for chestnut brown. For hair and some objects, ブラウン (buraun) is used.
brown (color)
Describing something as brown in everyday situations.
The most common and neutral word for brown. Used for objects, clothes, etc.
I like these brown shoes.
I painted the wall brown.
Loanword from English, often used in fashion, hair color, and product names. Sounds modern or stylish.
I'm looking for a brown jacket.
Describing a darker shade of brown, like coffee or chocolate.
Describing hair color, either natural or dyed.
Specifically refers to brown hair, often dyed. Very common in casual contexts.
She has brown hair (dyed).
Loanword, used in fashion and beauty contexts.
I want to dye my hair brown.
Chestnut brown hair, often used in literature or poetic descriptions.
Her chestnut brown hair was flowing.
Describing eye color.
Describing tanned or naturally brown skin.
Literally 'wheat-colored skin', a common and positive way to describe tanned skin.
My skin turned brown (tanned) in the summer.
More formal or literary term for brown/dark skin. Can be used for natural skin tones.
He has brown skin.
Specifically means suntanned skin, not necessarily brown but often implies a brownish tan.
Tanned (brown) skin looks healthy.
Referring to the ingredient brown sugar.
Referring to unpolished rice.
The standard term for brown rice. Literally 'dark rice'.
I eat brown rice for my health.
Describing food that has been cooked until brown.
茶色 is the everyday word for brown. 褐色 is more formal and often used for skin, leather, or in scientific contexts. ブラウン is a casual loanword common in fashion and beauty.
茶色 is a color word and is not used for food names like brown rice or brown sugar. Use 玄米 for brown rice and 黒砂糖 for brown sugar.
きつね色になるまで揚げる。
Deep-fry until golden brown.