Describes the tactile quality and visual impression of materials like cloth, fabric, or paper. Often used in contexts of fashion, interior design, and crafts.
This fabric has a soft texture and feels good against the skin.
Lighting fixtures that make use of the texture of Japanese paper are popular.
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.
Standard spelling with okurigana; common in news and everyday use.
Abbreviated spelling without okurigana; seen in some contexts but less common.
Compound of 風 (ふう, 'appearance, style') and 合い (あい, 'fit, condition'), referring to the overall impression of a material's surface.