淡あわい

あ

わ

い

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

淡い · i-adjective

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	淡あわい	淡あわくない
Polite	淡あわいです	淡あわくないですalso 淡あわくありません
Past polite	淡あわかったです	淡あわくなかったですalso 淡あわくありませんでした
Past	淡あわかった	淡あわくなかった
Te-form	淡あわくて	淡あわくなくて
Adverbial	淡あわく
Conditional	淡あわければ	淡あわくなければ
Tara conditional	淡あわかったら	淡あわくなかったら

Meanings

i-adjective

pale; light; faint

Used for colors, light, shadows, scents, and similar impressions that are soft, weak, or not intense.

彼かの女じょは淡あわいピンクのワンピースを着きていた。
She was wearing a pale pink dress.
空そらが淡あわい青あおに変かわってきた。
The sky began turning a light blue.

i-adjective

faint; fleeting; delicate

Figurative use for weak or delicate feelings, hopes, memories, or impressions; often softer and more lyrical than simply 弱い.

彼かれは淡あわい期き待たいを抱いだいて返へん事じを待まった。
He waited for the reply with a faint hope.
初はつ恋こいは今いまでも淡あわい思おもい出でとして残のこっている。
My first love still remains as a fleeting, delicate memory.

See all 67 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

淡あわい〈物もの〉の色いろthe pale/light color of something
淡あわいピンクの花はなびらが風かぜに舞まっていた。
Pale pink petals were dancing in the wind.
淡あわい光ひかりが〈場ば所しょ〉を照てらすa faint light illuminates a place
淡あわい光ひかりが部屋へやを照てらしていた。
A faint light was illuminating the room.
淡あわい期き待たいを抱いだくto hold a faint, fleeting hope
彼かれはまだ淡あわい期き待たいを抱いだいていた。
He was still holding onto a faint hope.
淡あわい恋こい心ごころa delicate, fleeting crush
彼かの女じょに淡あわい恋こい心ごころを抱いだいていた。
I had a delicate, fleeting crush on her.

Expressions

君くん子しの交まじわりは淡あわきこと水みずのごとしThe friendship between gentlemen is plain like water, and therefore enduring.

Kanji

淡thin, faint, pale

Related words

薄うすいN5sense 1
薄い is the broad, everyday word for thin, weak, or diluted things, while 淡い is a softer, more literary word specifically for gentle, faint colors or feelings.
仄ほのかN1
ほのか is a な-adjective/adverbial word for something faint or barely perceptible, while 淡い is an い-adjective used especially for pale colors and delicate emotions.
ペール
淡い is a natural Japanese adjective for pale, light colors, while ペール is a borrowed prenominal term often used in fashion/design contexts to sound stylish or trendy.

Opposites

濃こいN4sense 1
濃い describes strong, deep, or dark colors and flavors, the direct opposite of the soft, faint quality of 淡い.
鮮あざやかN2
淡い describes pale, faint colors, the opposite of the intense brightness of 鮮やか.

Don't confuse with

儚はかないN1
淡い describes something faint or light in intensity, like color or taste, while 儚い describes something transient or fleeting in existence.

Word family

淡あわ雪ゆき
light snow; thin layer of snow · jellied dessert (egg white, agar, sugar)
アワアワ
lightly; faintly; delicately

Written forms

淡あわいUsage97%
Standard kanji spelling for this い-adjective meaning pale, faint, or delicate.
あわいUsage3%

Etymology

A native Japanese adjective read あわい. The kanji 淡 is conventionally associated with pale, faint, or light qualities; the exact historical derivation of the word is uncertain.