ミッドナイトブルー
middonaito burū
ミッドナイトブルー (middonaito burū) is the Japanese way to say midnight blue.
This term refers to a dark blue colour. As a katakana loanword, this term is most commonly used in fashion, cosmetics or branding to sound more stylish or modern than the traditional Japanese color names.
Meaning: dark blue colour (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ミッドナイトブルー is a direct loanword, the native Japanese term 濃紺 (nōkon) is often used to describe a similar very dark blue color.
How do you pronounce it?
middonaito burū
Did you know?
- In Japanese, 'blue' covers a much wider spectrum than in English, and the word 青 (ao) can be used to describe things that English speakers would strictly call green, such as traffic lights.
- While ミッドナイトブルー is a modern loanword, the traditional deep blue 紺 (kon) was once so prized that its use was restricted by law to certain social classes.
- In Japanese branding, choosing ミッドナイトブルー over the traditional 濃紺 (nōkon) can actually change the perceived price of a product. The loanword is used to make an item feel more 'international' or 'luxurious' compared to the standard Japanese term.
Examples in context
- ミッドナイトブルーの車Midnight blue car
- 私はミッドナイトブルーがおしゃれだと思いますよ。I think midnight blue would be stylish.
- このシャツはミッドナイトブルーです。Kono shatsu wa middonaito burū desu.This shirt is midnight blue.
- ミッドナイトブルーのペンを買いました。Middonaito burū no pen o kaimashita.I bought a midnight blue pen.
- 夜空はミッドナイトブルーに見えます。Yozora wa middonaito burū ni miemasu.The night sky looks midnight blue.
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are looking at a new car in a showroom.
- 結衣 Yuiこの車、ミッドナイトブルーですか？Kono kuruma, middonaito burū desu ka?Is this car midnight blue?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、とても綺麗なミッドナイトブルーですよ。Hai, totemo kireina middonaito burū desu yo.Yes, it is a very beautiful midnight blue.
- 結衣 Yui大翔さんは、この色が好みですか？Hiroto-san wa, kono iro ga konomi desu ka?Hiroto, do you like this color?
- 大翔 Hirotoええ、落ち着いていて好きです。Ee, ochitsuite ite suki desu.Yes, I like it because it is calm.
