also: いっきんぞめ
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Refers to a specific traditional Japanese dye color, a very pale pink achieved by dyeing with a small amount of safflower (紅花). Often used in historical or kimono contexts.
A kimono dyed in 一斤染め has a beautiful, faint cherry-blossom color.
この帯は一斤染めで、控えめな華やかさがある。
This obi is 一斤染め, giving it a subdued elegance.
紅花 is the safflower used to produce the red pigment; 一斤染め is the resulting pale pink color when only a small amount is used.
Standard spelling with okurigana.
Alternate reading; いっこんぞめ is more standard.
Variant without okurigana; less common but still used.
From 一斤 (one kin, an old unit of weight) + 染め (dyeing). The name comes from the traditional method of using one kin of safflower to dye a bolt of cloth, resulting in a very pale pink.