真っ赤

• Reading: まっか
• Romaji: makka
• Kanji breakdown: 真 (ma/shin) — true, genuine; 赤 (ka/aka) — red
• Pronunciation: /ma.kːa/

Meaning

Deep red; bright crimson; flushed. Describes an intense, vivid red colour or a completely flushed face.

A na-adjective and noun formed with the intensifying prefix 真っ (completely/utterly). Used both literally for colour (真っ赤なりんご, a bright red apple) and figuratively (真っ赤な嘘, a blatant lie; 顔が真っ赤, face bright red from embarrassment). Part of a colour intensifier series: 真っ白 (pure white), 真っ黒 (pitch black), 真っ青 (deep blue).

Examples

1. 秋になると山の葉が真っ赤に染まる。 In autumn, the mountain leaves turn bright red.
2. 恥ずかしくて顔が真っ赤になった。 I was so embarrassed that my face turned beet red.
3. それは真っ赤な嘘だとすぐにわかった。 I could tell right away that it was a bald-faced lie.

Usage Guide

Context: description, emotions, nature

Tone: vivid

Origin & History

Compound of 真っ (ma-, an intensifying prefix from 真, ma, true/genuine) and 赤 (ka, red). The prefix 真 undergoes gemination (doubling of the following consonant) to become 真っ, indicating 'completely' or 'utterly.'

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal