旗はた色いろ

also: きしょく

は

た

い

ろ

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun

situation; outlook; how things are going

Refers to the state of affairs, especially in competitive or conflict contexts. Often used with verbs like 見る, 変わる, or 悪い.

試し合あいの旗はた色いろが悪わるくなってきた。
The outlook for the match has turned unfavorable.
選せん挙きょ戦せんの旗はた色いろを見み極きわめる。
Assess the situation of the election campaign.

noun

allegiance; affiliation; which side one is on

Indicates which group, faction, or side a person supports or belongs to. Often used in political, military, or organizational contexts.

彼かれの旗はた色いろはまだはっきりしない。
His allegiance is still unclear.
旗はた色いろを明あきらかにするよう求もとめられた。
He was asked to clarify which side he was on.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉の旗はた色いろが悪わるいthings are looking bad for 〈事〉; 〈事〉 is losing ground
試し合あいの旗はた色いろが悪わるくなってきた。
Things started looking bad for the team in the match.
旗はた色いろを鮮せん明めいにするto make clear which side one supports
選せん挙きょ前まえに党とうの旗はた色いろを鮮せん明めいにした。
Before the election, the party made clear which side it was on.
旗はた色いろを見みるto watch how things are going before acting
彼かれはしばらく旗はた色いろを見みてから発はつ言げんした。
He waited to see how things were going before speaking up.
旗はた色いろを変かえるto switch sides or allegiance
彼かれは状じょう況きょうに応おうじて旗はた色いろを変かえることで有ゆう名めいだ。
He's known for switching sides depending on the situation.

Kanji

旗flag, banner, standard
色color

Related words

形けい勢せいN1sense 1
形勢 is a neutral, general term for the state of affairs, while 旗色 adds a nuance of sides or competition, often used with 悪い/良い.
陣じん営えい sense 2
陣営 names the camp or faction itself, while 旗色 refers to which camp a person supports or how that camp is doing.
情じょう勢せいN1sense 1
情勢 refers broadly to circumstances or trends (often political/social), whereas 旗色 focuses on how a particular side or party is faring in a struggle.
状じょう況きょうN3sense 1
状況 is a broad, neutral word for circumstances, while 旗色 is limited to competitive or factional situations, especially who seems to be winning.

Built from

旗はた+色いろ

Written forms

旗色Usage100%
- はたいろ
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading はたいろ is the most common.
- きしょく
  Rare reading; はたいろ is overwhelmingly preferred in modern Japanese.
きしょく

Etymology

Compound of 旗 (hata, 'flag') and 色 (iro, 'color'). Originally referred to the color of a military banner indicating one's side in battle; extended to mean the situation or one's allegiance.