Translation guide
The English word 'monochrome' can refer to a single-color scheme, black-and-white imagery, or a lack of color. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for these concepts.
Describing something that uses only one color, often in design or art.
Loanword from English, commonly used in design and art contexts to mean a single-color scheme.
This room is decorated in monochrome.
Literally 'single color'. A more technical or formal term, often used in printing or manufacturing.
Means 'one color'. Often used in phrases like 一色でまとめる (to coordinate in one color).
Referring to images, films, or displays that use only black, white, and shades of gray.
The most common word for 'black and white'. Used for photos, TV, movies, etc.
Please print this photo in black and white.
Short for モノクローム. Very common for black-and-white photography, film, or displays. Often implies grayscale.
Loanword 'grayscale'. Used in technical or digital imaging contexts.
Describing something as colorless, drab, or monotonous in appearance.
Technical term for 'achromatic color'. Used in color theory, not in everyday conversation.
White, black, and gray are achromatic colors.
Idiom meaning 'lacks color/glamour'. Can describe a dull, uninteresting appearance, but not a direct translation of 'monochrome'.
This room is so drab.
Both mean black-and-white, but モノクロ is often used for artistic or photographic contexts, while 白黒 is more general and can imply a stark contrast (e.g., 白黒をつける 'to make a clear distinction'). モノクロ can also refer to a single-color scheme, not just grayscale.
単色印刷のチラシを作った。
I made a monochrome flyer.
She always wears monochrome clothes.
Old movies were in black and white.
モノクロ写真を撮るのが趣味です。
My hobby is taking monochrome photos.
Convert the image to grayscale.