色いろ合あい

い

ろ

あ

い

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Refers to the subtle quality of a color, including its shade, tint, or overall impression. Used for describing visual appearance in art, design, nature, and everyday objects.

この絵えの色いろ合あいがとても美うつくしい。
The coloring of this painting is very beautiful.
空そらの色いろ合あいが夕ゆう方がたになると変かわる。
The hue of the sky changes in the evening.

noun

flavor; nuance; feel; atmosphere

Extended figurative use: the subtle character, mood, or nuance of something non-visual, such as music, writing, or a situation. Often implies a delicate or refined quality.

彼かれの文ぶん章しょうには独どく特とくの色いろ合あいがある。
His writing has a unique flavor.
この曲きょくの色いろ合あいはどこか懐なつかしい。
The feel of this song is somewhat nostalgic.

See all 92 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

落おち着ついた色いろ合あいa calm, subdued shade/tone
この壁かべ紙がみは落おち着ついた色いろ合あいで人にん気きがある。
This wallpaper is popular for its calm, subdued tones.
独どく特とくの色いろ合あいa distinctive flavor or atmosphere (of something non-visual)
彼かれの文ぶん章しょうには独どく特とくの色いろ合あいがある。
His writing has a distinctive flavor to it.
色いろ合あいが違ちがうthe shade/tone is different
同おなじ赤あかでも商しょう品ひんによって色いろ合あいが違ちがう。
Even though it's the same red, the shade differs depending on the product.
色いろ合あいを出だすto bring out a certain tone or nuance
画が家かは淡あわい色いろ合あいを出だすために水みずを多おおく使つかった。
The painter used a lot of water to bring out pale tones.

Kanji

色color
合fit, suit, join

Related words· 7

色いろN5sense 1
色 is the plain, general word for 'color', while 色合い points to the subtle shade or tone within that color.
ニュアンスN1sense 2
ニュアンス is an abstract loanword for subtle nuance in meaning or feeling, while 色合い keeps a more sensory, often visual, connotation even in figurative use.
色しき調ちょう sense 1
色調 is a more technical term for overall color tone (often used in art/design), while 色合い is the everyday word for the same nuance of shade.
趣おもむきN1sense 2
趣 describes the tasteful atmosphere or flavor of something, close to the figurative sense of 色合い but with a more literary, refined feel.

Show 3 more

色しき彩さいN2sense 1
色彩 refers to coloring or color scheme as a whole, whereas 色合い zooms in on the particular tint or nuance of that coloring.
色いろ気けN1
色合い is the neutral, plain word for a color's shade or tone, while 色気 in this sense adds a subjective sense of visual charm or richness.
配はい色しょく
色合い refers to the shade or hue of a single color, while 配色 describes how multiple colors are combined together.

Don't confuse with

風ふう合あい sense 1
風合い describes the tactile texture or feel of a material (like fabric), while 色合い specifically concerns color or figurative tone, not touch.

Built from

色いろ+合あう

Written forms

色合いUsage95%
- いろあい
  Standard modern spelling with okurigana.
- いろあわい
  out-dated reading
色合Usage5%
- いろあい
  Variant spelling without okurigana; less common but still encountered.
- いろあわい
  out-dated reading
いろあわい
out-dated reading

Etymology

Compound of 色 (iro, 'color') + 合い (ai, 'match, fit together'), from the verb 合う (au, 'to match, suit'). Literally 'color matching', it came to refer to the resulting shade or tone, and later extended to figurative nuances.