Translation guide
A substance used to impart color to something, such as food, textiles, or cosmetics. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 着色料 (chakushokuryō), especially for food additives. Other terms exist for dyes, pigments, and coloring agents in specific contexts.
The most common use of 'colorant' in everyday English refers to food coloring or additives used to change the color of food and drinks.
The standard term for food coloring or color additive. Used on ingredient labels and in everyday conversation about food.
This candy contains colorants.
I bought juice with no artificial colorants.
Specifically 'food colorant' or 'food coloring'. More precise than 着色料 alone, often used in formal or technical contexts.
Some food colorants are derived from natural sources.
Refers to synthetic or artificial colorants, often contrasted with natural ones. Common in discussions about food safety.
I want to avoid synthetic colorants.
When 'colorant' refers to a dye used to color fabrics, hair, or in arts and crafts.
General term for dye, used for textiles, hair, and other materials. Not typically used for food.
This dye works well on silk.
Powdered dye, often used for home dyeing of clothes. More casual and specific to powder form.
Specifically hair dye or the act of dyeing hair. Often used in compound words like 毛染め剤 (hair coloring agent).
When 'colorant' refers to a pigment used in art supplies, printing, plastics, or other industrial applications.
Pigment, an insoluble coloring substance used in paints, inks, and plastics. Distinct from dyes which dissolve.
This paint uses natural pigments.
A broader term for any coloring agent, including both dyes and pigments. Used in industrial and cosmetic contexts.
Technical term for coloring materials, often used in chemistry or materials science. Covers both dyes and pigments.
I research colorants.
When 'colorant' refers to ingredients that add color to cosmetics like lipstick, eyeshadow, or blush.
Also used for cosmetic colorants, though often specified as 化粧品着色料. In context, 着色料 alone can be understood.
Are the colorants used in lipstick safe?
Pigments used in makeup, especially mineral-based products. Often found in ingredient lists.
着色料 (chakushokuryō) is the most general term for food and cosmetic colorants. 染料 (senryō) is specifically for dyes that dissolve and are used on textiles or hair. 顔料 (ganryō) refers to pigments that do not dissolve and are used in paints, inks, and plastics. Use 着色料 for food, 染料 for fabric/hair dyeing, and 顔料 for art/industrial pigments.
Colorants for food, dyes for cloth, pigments for paints.
The direct loanword カララント (kararanto) is not commonly used in Japanese. It may appear in some technical contexts but sounds unnatural in everyday speech. Stick to the native terms above.
I dyed my hair with a colorant.
I re-dyed my T-shirt with powdered colorant.
I use a store-bought hair colorant.
Colorant is mixed into the plastic to give it color.
This cosmetic contains natural colorants.
ミネラルファンデーションには顔料が使われています。
Mineral foundations use pigments as colorants.