Translation and Meaning of: 色 - iro

If you've ever wondered how the Japanese talk about colors, the word 色[いろ] is the key to understanding this vibrant universe. In the Suki Nihongo dictionary, in addition to the meaning and translation, you’ll find details about the kanji writing, ready-to-memorize phrases, and even curiosities that go beyond the basics. In this article, we will explore the origin, everyday usage, and even tips to remember this term that is so present in the language. If you want to master Japanese, understanding 色 is essential — and it might be more fun than you think!

Origin and etymology of 色

The kanji 色 has a fascinating history. Its ancient form in archaic Chinese represented a combination of 人 (person) and 巴 (curvilinear pattern), suggesting something like "facial expression" or "appearance." Over time, the meaning evolved to "color" — after all, colors are a fundamental part of visual perception. It is interesting to note that, in Japanese, iro can also carry nuances of "emotion" or "passion," as in the expression 色気[いろけ] (seduction).

In writing, the kanji is composed of 6 strokes and is part of the JLPT N4, making it one of the most useful intermediate ideograms. A curiosity? In Buddhist contexts, 色 can refer to the "material world," contrasting with the spiritual. This shows how a single word can open doors to understanding not only the language but also Japanese culture.

Everyday use and popular expressions

In daily life, 色 appears in situations ranging from simple conversations to proverbs. Phrases like 色を付ける[いろをつける] ("give a special touch") or 色が違う[いろがちがう] ("have a different color") are common. But the term also arises in unexpected contexts: in restaurants, 色々[いろいろ] means "varied" — like in a sushi combo with diverse "colors."

Do you want a practical example? If a Japanese person says あの人は色が白い[あのひとはいろがしろい], they are not just talking about fair skin, but possibly highlighting a striking physical characteristic. And pay attention: 色んな[いろんな] (a contraction of 色々な) is one of the most commonly used words informally to say "various types of." Do you see how the basics can be versatile?

Tips for memorization and curiosities

To fix 色, associate the kanji with a rainbow — the curved strokes resemble brushstrokes of paint. Another trick? Think of イロ (iro) as "I ROund" something with colors. If you use Anki, create cards with images of colorful objects and the caption in Japanese. It works!

Now, a cultural pearl: in Japan, traditional colors like 藍色[あいいろ] (indigo) or 桜色[さくらいろ] (cherry blossom) have poetic names derived from 色. And guess what? Many of these shades are linked to nature and the seasons — a testament to how language reflects the environment. Want to test your knowledge? Try naming in Japanese the color of your favorite shirt using 色!

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 色彩 (shikisai) - Color, coloring
• 色合い (iroai) - Hue, gradient
• 色調 (irochou) - Toning, hue
• 色味 (iromi) - Color palette, color nuance
• 色彩感覚 (shikisai kankaku) - Color perception
• 色相 (ishou) - Tone, basic hue
• 色濃度 (iro noudou) - Color intensity
• 色度 (shikido) - Color degree, chromaticity
• 色彩度 (shikisai do) - Color vibrancy level
• 色彩鮮やかさ (shikisai azayakasa) - Vibrancy, liveliness of color
• 色彩明るさ (shikisai akarusa) - Brightness, luminosity of the color
• 色彩深さ (shikisai fukasa) - Depth of color
• 色彩豊かさ (shikisai yutakasa) - Wealth, wealth of colors

色

Romaji: iro
Kana: いろ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: color

Meaning in English: colour

Definition: The property of a substance that reflects light.

Example Sentences - (色) iro

See below some example sentences:

ブルーは私の好きな色です。

Burū wa watashi no sukina iro desu

Blue is my favorite color.

Blue is my favorite color.

• ブルー (buruu) - blue
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 私の (watashi no) - my
• 好きな (suki na) - favorite
• 色 (iro) - color
• です (desu) - Ser/estar (linking verb)

その花の色は鮮やかで美しいです。

sono hana no iro wa azayaka de utsukushii desu

The color of that flower is vibrant and beautiful.

The color of the flower is bright and beautiful.

• その - demonstrative pronoun meaning "that"
• 花 - noun meaning "flower"
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words
• 色 - noun that means "color"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 鮮やか - adjective that means "vibrant" or "intense"
• で - particle that indicates the means or way in which something is done
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - verb indicating the polite or formal form of the present tense

あくどい色の服を着るのは好きじゃない。

Akudoi iro no fuku wo kiru no wa suki janai

I don't like to wear a terrible color.

I don't like to wear a terrible color.

• あくどい色 - Dark or gloomy color
• 服 - clothing
• 着る - wear
• のは - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 好き - Like
• じゃない - Informal negative of "desu", which indicates negation.

オルガンの音色は美しいです。

O rugan no neiro wa utsukushii desu

The sound of the organ is beautiful.

The organ tone is beautiful.

• オルガン - organ
• の - Possession particle
• 音色 - timbre, sound quality
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - Beautiful, lovely
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

この盆地は美しい景色がたくさんあります。

Kono bondi wa utsukushii keshiki ga takusan arimasu

This basin has many beautiful landscapes.

• この - demonstrative determiner meaning "this"
• 盆地 - noun meaning "basin", "valley"
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 美しい - adjective meaning "pretty", "beautiful"
• 景色 - noun meaning "landscape", "view"
• が - subject particle that indicates who performs the action
• たくさん - adverb meaning "a lot", "many"
• あります - verb meaning "to exist", "to be"

この映画は素晴らしい脚色で作られました。

Kono eiga wa subarashii kyakushoku de tsukuraremashita

This movie was made with great adaptation.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 映画 - noun meaning "film"
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 素晴らしい - adjective meaning "wonderful" or "splendid"
• 脚色 - noun that means "script" or "adaptation"
• で - particle that indicates the means or method used to do something
• 作られました - passive verb in the polite past form meaning "was done" or "was produced"

この服は目立つ色だ。

Kono fuku wa medatsu iro da

This outfit has a color that stands out.

These clothes are visible colors.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 服 - The noun that means "clothing" is "服" (ふく, fuku) in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 目立つ - verb that means "to attract attention" or "to be noteworthy"
• 色 - noun that means "color"
• だ - auxiliary verb that indicates the affirmative form in the present of informal language

この絵は美しい着色がされています。

Kono e wa utsukushii chakushoku ga sarete imasu

This painting has a beautiful color.

This image is beautifully colored.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 絵 - noun that means "painting" or "drawing"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• 着色 - noun that means "coloring" or "painting"
• が - Particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• されています - passive verb in the polite form meaning "was done" or "was painted"

この地点には美しい景色が見えます。

Kono chiten ni wa utsukushii keshiki ga miemasu

In this place

You can see a beautiful landscape at this time.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 地点 - noun that means "point" or "location"
• に - particle that indicates "in" or "at"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "this point"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• 景色 - noun that means "landscape" or "view"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "the beautiful landscape"
• 見えます - verb that means "can be seen"

この壷は美しい色合いをしています。

Kono tsubo wa utsukushii iroai o shiteimasu

This vase has a beautiful color combination.

This pan has a beautiful shade.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 壷 - noun that means "jug" or "vase"
• は - topic particle that indicates that "this jar" is the subject of the sentence
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• 色合い - noun that means "combination of colors" or "hue"
• を - direct object particle indicating that "the combination of colors" is the object of the sentence
• しています - verb that means "to have" or "to possess," in the present tense and polite form