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声色を使う (こわいろをつかう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

声こわ色いろを使つかう

こ

わ

い

ろ

を

つ

か

う

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-u)

mimic someone's voice; impersonate

Often used in the pattern 〜の声色を使う to specify whose voice is being imitated. Describes the act of changing one's voice to sound like another person.

彼かれは有ゆう名めい人じんの声こわ色いろを使つかって、みんなを笑わらわせた。
He made everyone laugh by mimicking a celebrity's voice.
電でん話わで友とも達

だち

の

声こわ

色いろ

を

使つか

う

の

は

やめ

て

ください

。

Please stop impersonating my friend on the phone.

Written forms

声こわ色いろを使つかう
Standard kanji spelling for the expression.
声こわ色いろを遣つかう
Alternate kanji for つかう; less common but acceptable.

Kanji

声voice
色color
使use, send on a mission, order
遣dispatch, despatch, send

Similar words

物もの真似まね
物真似 refers to imitation in general, including gestures and appearance, while 声色を使う specifically means using a different voice to mimic someone.
声せい帯たい模も写しゃ
声帯模写 is a more technical term for vocal mimicry, often used in entertainment contexts, whereas 声色を使う is a common, everyday expression.

Etymology

Compound of 声色 (こわいろ, 'tone of voice') and 使う (つかう, 'to use'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the expression naturally describes the act of employing a different voice.