earth color; ashen; deathly pale
Describes a dull brownish-gray color like soil, or a pale, sickly complexion. Often used for an unhealthy face color.
His face was ashen from illness.
壁はくすんだ土色に塗られていた。
The wall was painted a dull earth color.
Standard kanji spelling for the color 'earth' or 'ashen'.
Compound of 土 (つち, 'earth, soil') and 色 (いろ, 'color'). The meaning 'ashen, deathly pale' comes from the association of a sickly complexion with the color of soil.