蒼そう白はく

そ

う

は

く

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

na-adjective, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun

Describes a pale or pallid appearance, often used for complexion, light, or color. Can be used as a noun or adjectivally with な or の.

彼かれは病びょう気きで顔かおが蒼そう白はくだった。
His face was pale from illness.
蒼そう白はくな月つき明あかりが部屋へやを照てらしていた。
Pale moonlight illuminated the room.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Kanji

蒼blue, pale
白white

Related words

青あお白じろいN2
蒼白 is a formal, often medical, Sino-Japanese term for pallor, while 青白い is the everyday native adjective used to describe a pale face or bluish-white light.
真まっ青さおN3
蒼白 is a formal, often medical term for facial pallor, while 真っ青 is the everyday, vivid way to describe someone turning white with shock or fear.
青あおざめるN1
蒼白 is a more literary or medical noun for pallor, often used as 顔面蒼白になる, whereas 青ざめる is the everyday verb for someone's face losing color.

Opposites

紅こう潮ちょう
蒼白 describes the face turning pale (e.g. from shock or illness), the opposite of 紅潮's reddening.

Word family

蒼そう白はく色しょく
pale; pallid; wan
顔がん面めん蒼そう白はく
face turning pale; color draining from one's face

Etymology

Compound of 蒼 (sō, 'blue' or 'pale') and 白 (haku, 'white'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally conveys paleness.