also: ごしょく
five colors; the five colors
Refers to the five traditional colors: red, blue, yellow, white, and black. Often used in artistic, cultural, or descriptive contexts.
Five-colored strips of paper are swaying in the wind.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Used attributively with の to mean 'of many kinds' or 'varied'. Often appears in set phrases like 五色の声 (varied voices/opinions).
Rare, archaic noun meaning melon or gourd, from the association with the five colors of ripe fruit. Not used in modern Japanese outside of historical or literary contexts.
See also: 瓜
This dish uses ingredients of five colors.
It was a meeting where varied opinions were flying about.
Flowers of many colors brighten the garden.
In classical language, 五色 can be used to mean 'melon'.
barbet
European goldfinch
five lowly castes of the ritsuryō system
mixed fried vegetables
painted bunting
rainbow lorikeet; rainbow lory
Standard kanji spelling; the reading ごしょく is more common in modern Japanese.
Alternate reading, somewhat less common but still used, especially in traditional contexts.
From 五 (five) + 色 (colors). The reading ごしょく is the standard on'yomi combination; ごしき is an older reading. The archaic 'melon' sense likely derives from the five colors associated with ripe gourds.