青色
aoiro
The English phrase "color blue" is translated into Japanese as 青色 (aoiro).
青色 refers to the specific color that resembles a clear sky or a deep ocean. It is important to note that in certain traditional contexts, the related word 青 can also refer to green, such as when used in the term 青信号 (aoishingō) for a green traffic light.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 青色 is composed of 青 (ao), meaning blue and 色 (iro), meaning color.
Which one should you use?
While 青色 specifically refers to the color itself, the shorter form 青 is more commonly used as a noun or an adjective to describe blue objects. For different shades, you can use mizuiro for light blue, kon for dark blue or the phrase nēbi iro for navy blue.
How do you pronounce it?
aoiro
Did you know?
- The word 'blue' in Japanese is often used metaphorically to describe 'youth' or 'inexperience'. The phrase 青い (aoi) can describe a person who is still 'green' or naive in their ways.
- When describing a person's face, the color 'blue' can be used to describe a pale or sickly complexion. A 'blue face' in Japanese often implies someone is looking unwell or even quite terrified.
- While 青色 (aoiro) is the standard term for the color, you might see 碧 (ao) used in literature to describe a much more poetic, deep, or jewel-like blue. It adds a layer of aesthetic elegance that the standard 青 lacks.
Examples in context
- きれいな水色のワンピースが好きです。I like the beautiful light blue dress.
- そのトラックは濃い青色です。That truck is a dark blue color.
- 今日は空色のシャツを着ています。Today, I'm wearing a sky blue shirt.
- 彼女のネイビー色のバッグは素敵ですね。Her navy blue bag looks lovely, doesn't it?
- あの花瓶の青味がとてもきれいです。The bluish tint of that vase is very beautiful.
- この風景は青味が濃いですね。There is a strong bluish tint in this scenery, isn't there?
- このシャツは青色です。Kono shatsu wa ao-iro desu.This shirt is blue.
- 空は綺麗な青色をしています。Sora wa kireina ao-iro o shite imasu.The sky is a beautiful blue.
- 青色を基調とした部屋にしたいです。Ao-iro o kichotoshita heya ni shitai desu.I want to make a room based on the color blue.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are looking at paint samples for a room.
- 美咲 Misakiどの色がいいと思う？Dono iro ga ii to omou?Which color do you think is good?
- 健太 Kenta私は青色がいいと思うよ。Watashi wa aoiro ga ii to omou yo.I think the color blue would be good.
- 美咲 Misakiいい考えだね。買いに行こう。Ii kangae da ne. Kai ni ikou.That's a good idea. Let's go buy it.
- 健太 Kentaうん、行こう。Un, ikou.Yeah, let's go.
