練ねり紅べに

Meanings

muddy-colored lipstick; muddy rouge

Refers to a traditional Japanese cosmetic: a kneaded, muddy-toned red pigment used for lips or cheeks. The term is historical and not used for modern makeup.

江え戸ど時じ代だいの女じょ性せいは練ねり紅べにを唇くちびるに塗ぬっていた。
Women in the Edo period applied muddy rouge to their lips.

Kanji

練practice, gloss, train
紅crimson, deep red
煉refine metals, kneading over fire

Related words

紅くれない
紅 is a general term for crimson pigment or rouge, while 練り紅 specifically refers to a kneaded, muddy-colored variety.
口くち紅べに
口紅 is the modern word for lipstick, whereas 練り紅 is a historical cosmetic with a distinct muddy hue.

Written forms

練ねり紅べに
Standard modern spelling using 練り (kneaded) and 紅 (crimson/rouge).
煉ねり紅べに
Variant using 煉 (refine/knead), less common in modern usage.
練ねり紅べに
Abbreviated spelling omitting the okurigana り; may be encountered in older or specialized contexts.

Etymology

Compound of 練り (kneaded, from 練る) and 紅 (crimson, rouge). The term describes a traditional cosmetic made by kneading red pigment into a paste, often with a subdued, muddy tone.