Translation guide
The English word "colors" can refer to hues, pigments, or even flags and emotions. This guide covers how to talk about colors naturally in Japanese, from basic color words to describing shades and color-related expressions.
What is your favorite color?
I like blue.
Referring to colors in general, or naming specific colors.
The most common word for 'color' or 'colors'. Use it to talk about colors in general.
What is your favorite color?
This color is pretty, isn't it?
A more formal or literary term for 'colors' or 'coloring'. Often used in art or design contexts.
Loanword from English, often used in compound words like 'color TV' or 'color copy'.
Naming individual colors like red, blue, green, etc.
Red. One of the basic color terms. Can be used as a noun or with い-adjective form 赤い.
Talking about light, dark, bright, or dull colors.
Referring to physical coloring materials like paints, crayons, or dyes.
Paints, especially for art. Often used for watercolors or poster paints.
Using color words in figurative or set phrases.
Various, many kinds. Literally 'colors colors', but means 'various'.
Referring to colors representing a country, team, or organization.
National colors (loanword). Often used in sports contexts.
Many basic color words have both a noun form (e.g., 赤) and an い-adjective form (赤い). Use the noun form with の to modify nouns (赤の車) or the adjective form directly (赤い車). However, some colors like 緑 (green) and 紫 (purple) lack common い-adjective forms; use 緑の, 紫の instead.
Historically, 青 (あお) covered both blue and green. This still appears in words like 青信号 (green traffic light) and 青々とした (lush green). For modern green, use 緑 (みどり).
この絵は色彩が豊かだ。
This painting has rich colors.
A color copy, please.
赤い車が欲しい。
I want a red car.
The traffic light turned red.
Blue (also historically green for traffic lights and some fruits/vegetables). Adjective form: 青い.
The sky is blue.
Let's cross on the green light.
Yellow. Adjective form: 黄色い.
Yellow flowers are blooming.
Green. Note: no common い-adjective form; use 緑の + noun.
Eat green vegetables.
White. Adjective form: 白い.
He is wearing a white shirt.
This red is too dark.
I like light blue.
明るい means bright/light, 暗い means dark. Can be used with 色 or specific color words.
Please wear bright-colored clothes.
Dark green leaves.
Vivid, brilliant. Often used to describe striking colors.
A painting with vivid colors.
To paint colors with paints.
Colored pencils.
To draw a picture with colored pencils.
Dye, dyestuff. Used for coloring fabrics or materials.
This dye doesn't fade.
I want to go to various countries.
To add color (literally), or to give a discount/bonus (figuratively).
They threw in something extra as a bonus.
To view with prejudice. Literally 'to see with colored glasses'.
He always looks at people with prejudice.
Japan's national colors are red and white.
Team colors.
This team's color is blue.