色
color
Readings
On'yomi
- ショク
- シキ
Kun'yomi
- いろ
Nanori
- しか
- しこ
Meaning
色 centers on the visual quality of color, the way light reflects to produce hues. It can also extend to expressions or appearances that carry a certain tone or feeling.
Most common words using 色
24 of 842- 色いろN5
colour; color; hue; tint; tinge; shade
- 色々いろいろN5
various; a variety of; all sorts of; many (different)
- 色んないろんな
various; a variety of; all sorts of; many (different)
- 黄色きいろN5
yellow; amber
- 景色けしきN4
scenery; scene; landscape
- 緑色みどりいろN4
green; green color
- 黄色いきいろいN5
yellow
- 茶色ちゃいろN5
brown; light brown; tawny
- 一色いっしょく
one color
- 灰色はいいろN3
grey; gray; ashen
- 色彩しきさいN2
colour; color; hue; tints
- 赤色あかいろ
red; red color
- 白色しろいろ
white
- 色気いろけN1
colouring; coloring; shade of colour (color)
- 青色あおいろ
blue
- 水色みずいろN1
light blue; pale blue; aqua
- 金色きんいろN1
gold (colour, color)
- 特色とくしょくN3
characteristic; (distinctive) feature; peculiarity; distinguishing quality; special character
- 色合いいろあい
colouring; coloring; shade (of colour); hue; tone; tinge; tint
- 染色せんしょくN1
dyeing
- 音色ねいろN1
tone color; tone colour; tone quality; timbre
- 顔色かおいろN3
complexion; one's colour; one's color
- 着色ちゃくしょくN1
colouring; coloring; colorant
- 紫色むらさきいろ
purple; violet
Study
Etymology
色 originally depicted a person bending over another, associated with complexion or facial color. The modern form is simplified, but the connection to color and appearance remains.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part looks like a bent figure (勹) over a curled shape (巴), like someone bending to examine a colorful object. Think of 色 as the color you see when you look closely.
Reading mnemonic
For ショク, imagine a shock of bright color suddenly appearing: shock -> ショク, and the vivid color grabs your attention.