黄緑
kimidori
The English phrase "light green" is translated into Japanese as 黄緑 (kimidori).
黄緑 refers specifically to a yellowish-green color.
Which one should you use?
While 黄緑 is the standard term for the yellowish-green shade, the phrase 淡いグリーン can be used to refer more generally to a light shade of green. Additionally, appending 色 to 黄緑 to create 黄緑色 turns the word into a more explicit noun for the color itself.
How do you pronounce it?
kimidori
Did you know?
- Japanese speakers may use the word 青 ('blue') to describe things that an English speaker would call 黄緑 or 'light green', such as a green traffic light.
- To describe a very pale or translucent light green, such as the color of jade, Japanese speakers often use the evocative term 若草色 (wakakusa-iro), which means 'young grass color'.
- The word 緑 ('green') historically referred specifically to the color of young leaves rather than a general category of color.
Examples in context
- 彼女は淡い緑のドレスを着ていた。She was wearing a light green dress.
- 彼の新しいTシャツは薄緑だった。His new T-shirt was light green.
- 彼女は淡いグリーンのネイルをしている。She has light green nails.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are choosing a color for a drawing.
- 陽太 Yotaどの色で塗りましょうか？Dono iro de nurimashou ka?Which color should we use to paint it?
- 陽葵 Himari黄緑がいいと思います。Kimidori ga ii to omoimasu.I think light green would be good.
- 陽太 Yotaいいですね。黄緑は明るい色です。Ii desu ne. Kimidori wa akarui iro desu.That's a good idea. Light green is a bright color.
- 陽葵 Himariはい、とても綺麗です。Hai, totemo kirei desu.Yes, it is very beautiful.
