色

• Reading: いろ
• Romaji: iro
• Kanji breakdown: 色 (shoku/iro) — colour, appearance
• Pronunciation: /i.ɾo/

Meaning

Colour; hue; tint; shade. The general word for colour in Japanese.

Used both as a standalone noun and as a suffix in colour names: 赤い (red) → 赤色 (the colour red). Also used figuratively to mean 'type' or 'variety' as in 色々 (iroiro, various). In traditional Japanese culture, colours carry deep symbolic meaning.

Examples

1. 好きな色は何ですか。 What is your favorite color?
2. この服は色がきれいですね。 The color of these clothes is beautiful, isn't it.
3. 色々な料理を食べてみたい。 I want to try eating various kinds of food.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, art, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 色 originally depicted a person kneeling over another, associated with beauty and appearance. The meaning shifted from 'complexion/appearance' to 'colour' in general.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal