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紅 (くれない, kurenai) Japanese meaning: deep red | Kotomora

紅くれない

also: べに · こう

く

れ

な

い

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

deep red; crimson

Refers to a vivid, deep red color, often with poetic or traditional connotations. Commonly read くれない in this sense.

彼かの女じょは紅くれないのドレスを着きていた。

She wore a deep red dress.

紅くれないに染そまった空そらが美うつくしい。

The sky dyed crimson is beautiful.

2

rouge; lipstick

Only with reading べに

Specifically refers to cosmetic rouge or lipstick, read べに. Often used in compounds like 口紅 (くちべに, lipstick).

母ははは鏡かがみの前まえで紅べにをさしている。
My mother is applying lipstick in front of the mirror.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉が紅くれないに染そまるfor something to be dyed/tinted crimson
夕ゆう焼やけで西にしの空そらが紅くれないに染そまった。
The western sky turned crimson with the sunset.
紅くれないを差さすto apply rouge or lipstick
彼かの女じょは薄うすく紅くれないを差さして出でかけた。
She put on a little rouge before going out.

Expressions

柳やなぎは緑みどり、花はなは紅くれないnatural state; unspoilt by human touch · spring is beautiful · things differ by nature; each has its own character
紅くれないは園その生うに植うえても隠かくれなしgood wine needs no bush; talent stands out

Kanji

紅crimson, deep red

Related words

赤あかN5sense 1
赤 is the plain, general word for red, while 紅（くれない）denotes a deep, often literary or traditional shade of crimson.
口くち紅べにN3sense 2
口紅 is the ordinary modern word for lipstick, while 紅（べに）alone sounds more old-fashioned or poetic when referring to lipstick.
緋ひ
紅 is a deep crimson with a slightly purplish, classical-aesthetic nuance, close to but subtly darker than 緋.
朱あけ
紅 describes a deep crimson or rouge-like red, whereas 朱 is a lighter, more orange-leaning vermilion.

Word family

中なか紅くれない
medium crimson
唐から紅くれない
deep crimson; Chinese red
紅くれないの袴はかま
red hakama
紅くれないずいき
red taro stems; red aroid stems

Written forms

紅Usage93%
- くれない
  Standard kanji spelling for the reading くれない, meaning deep red or crimson.
- べに
  Common reading for the rouge/lipstick sense; also used in compounds like 口紅 (くちべに).
- こう
  On-reading, mostly found in compounds such as 紅茶 (こうちゃ) or 紅葉 (こうよう). Rare as a standalone word.

Etymology

The kanji 紅 combines 糸 (thread) and 工 (work), originally referring to a red dye made from safflower. The reading くれない is of native origin, while べに is a shift from 紅 (くれない) and こう is the Sino-Japanese on-reading.

ベニUsage5%

コウUsage1%

くれないUsage1%

べにUsage<1%

こう