How to Say "Light Blue" in Japanese

水色

mizuiro[mʲizɨiɾo̞]

The Japanese word for "light blue" is 水色 (mizuiro).

水色 is a noun used to describe a pale blue colour: sky blue or similar.

Meaning: a pale blue colour: sky blue or similar (noun)

Which one should you use?

While 青 refers to the general category of blue, 水色 specifically denotes a lighter, water-like shade.

To use 水色 as an adjective to modify a noun, such as "light blue tie", you must add the particle の to form 水色の.

mizuiro

While 水色 means 'light blue', the broader category of 青 was historically used to describe both blue and green, such as in the word for 'green light' which is actually 青信号.
The word 水色 is often used in the names of traditional Japanese sweets and kimonos to evoke the feeling of coolness during the humid summer months.
In some traditional contexts, 水色 is considered a 'seasonal' color that is most appropriate for wear in the spring and summer.

水色のネクタイをしていらっしゃいました。
He was wearing a light blue tie.
This sentence shows how to use 水色 to describe a tie.
Tatoeba #11576632 by small_snow, translation #10218344 by megamanenm
娘は、水色の着物をきていました。
The girl wore a light blue kimono.
This sentence shows how to use 水色 to describe a kimono.
Tatoeba #1771479 by Scott, translation #1771482 by Scott
水色は澄んだ水の色を表し、明るく淡い青色のことである。
Aqua expresses the colour of clear water, it is a bright, and light, blue.
This sentence explains the meaning of 水色 as a bright, light blue representing clear water.
Tatoeba #455238 by xtofu80, translation #542637 by blay_paul
Watashi no furui sūtsu wa mizuiro desu. (私の古いスーツは水色です)
My old suit is light blue.
Watashi no sukāto wa sorairo da yo! (私のスカートは空色だよ！)
My skirt is light blue!
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Hiyori and Yota are shopping for new towels.

陽葵 Himari

陽太、どっちの色がいい？
Yota, dotchi no iro ga ii?
Yota, which color do you prefer?
陽太 Yota

僕は水色が好きだな。
Boku wa mizuiro ga suki da na.
I like the light blue one.
陽葵 Himari

じゃあ、水色にしようか。
Jaa, mizuiro ni shiyou ka.
Then, shall we go with light blue?
陽太 Yota

うん、それにしよう。
Un, sore ni shiyou.
Yeah, let's do that.

Sources

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