also: べんがら
noun
red iron oxide; red ocher
A pigment used in traditional Japanese crafts, pottery, and painting. Derived from Dutch 'Bengala'.
from Dutch Bengala
この陶器の赤い色はベンガラで出しています。
The red color of this pottery is produced using red iron oxide.
ベンガラは古くから染料や塗料に使われてきた。
Red ocher has been used since ancient times as a dye and paint.
Ateji kanji form; rarely used.
Ateji kanji form; rarely used.
Borrowed from Dutch 'Bengala', referring to Bengal in India, from where the pigment was historically imported.