noun
love affair; romantic entanglement
Often implies a complicated or troublesome romantic involvement, sometimes with a hint of scandal or gossip.
彼は職場で色恋沙汰を起こして辞めた。
He got involved in a love affair at work and quit.
あの俳優の色恋沙汰が週刊誌に載っていた。
That actor's romantic entanglement was in the weekly magazine.
Compound of 色 (いろ, 'color; love; sexual passion'), 恋 (こい, 'romantic love'), and 沙汰 (ざた, 'affair; matter; trouble'). The combination 色恋 reinforces the idea of romantic or sexual love, while 沙汰 adds a sense of complication or public fuss.