Translation guide
A red dye made from the dried bodies of female cochineal insects, used as a food coloring and in cosmetics. In Japanese, it is most commonly referred to by its loanword name, with native terms being rare or technical.
Referring to the dye itself, especially in food, cosmetics, or art.
The standard loanword for cochineal dye. Widely understood in contexts like food additives and coloring.
このお菓子には着色料としてコチニールが使われています。
This candy uses cochineal as a coloring agent.
Refers specifically to carmine, the purified pigment from cochineal. Common in ingredient lists.
口紅にカルミンが含まれている。
The lipstick contains carmine.
Literally 'cochineal pigment'. Used in formal or technical descriptions, such as food additive labeling.
コチニール色素は天然由来の着色料です。
Cochineal pigment is a naturally derived coloring agent.
A traditional Japanese term for cochineal/carmine, literally 'Western red'. Rarely used today, mostly in historical or artistic contexts.
浮世絵に洋紅が使われた。
Cochineal was used in ukiyo-e prints.
Referring to the insect species used to produce the dye.
The full Japanese name for the cochineal insect, combining the loanword with the native word for scale insect.
コチニールカイガラムシはサボテンに寄生する。
The cochineal insect parasitizes cacti.
A native Japanese term literally meaning 'cochineal insect' (臙脂虫). Archaic and rarely encountered outside historical texts.
江戸時代にエンジムシが輸入された。
Cochineal insects were imported during the Edo period.
In ingredient lists, cochineal is often labeled as コチニール色素 (cochineal pigment) or カルミン (carmine). If you see these on a package, they refer to the same red dye derived from insects.
原材料名：砂糖、コチニール色素
Ingredients: sugar, cochineal color