オレンジ
orenji[o̞ɾẽ̞ɲ̟d͡ʑi]
The English word orange can be translated into Japanese as オレンジ (orenji). Wiktionary also lists 蜜柑 (mikan) and 橙 (daidai).
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| オレンジ | orenji | [o̞ɾẽ̞ɲ̟d͡ʑi] (narrow) |
| 蜜柑 | mikan | [mʲik̚kã̠ɴ] (narrow) [mʲikã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| 橙 | daidai | [da̠ida̠i] (narrow) |
The term refers to the fruit. The term 'orenji iro (オレンジ色)' directly translates to 'orange color'.
Which one should you use?
There are three main words for orange in Japanese. オレンジ (orenji), 橙 (daidai) and 蜜柑 (mikan), which is an obsolete term for orange.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The counter 'ko' is used for counting 'mikan', such as in the phrase 三個の蜜柑 (san ko no mikan) for 'three oranges'. To use orange as an adjective to describe a color, you use the forms オレンジ色の (orenji iro no) or 橙色の (daidai iro no).
How do you pronounce it?
orenji
Did you know?
- The word 橙 (daidai) is a homophone for the word meaning 'many generations'. This is because the bitter orange fruit stays on the tree through winter, symbolizing the continuity of a family lineage.
- In Japan, 蜜柑 (mikan) refers to the satsuma mandarin, which is the most common 'orange' found in homes and is typically peeled by hand rather than cut with a knife.
- While オレンジ is a direct loanword from English, the term 橙 (daidai) refers specifically to a bitter orange, which is distinct from the sweet oranges often associated with オレンジ.
Examples in context
- オレンジ食べてま〜す。I'm eating an orange.This sentence shows how to use オレンジ to mean eating an orange.Tatoeba #11561733 by small_snow, translation #8650928 by shekitten
- トムはオレンジ色好きだ。Tom likes orange.This sentence shows the use of オレンジ to express a preference for the fruit.Tatoeba #7486086 by Ninja, translation #7486085 by CK
- オレンジ色が好きなんだ。I like the color orange.This sentence shows how to use オレンジ to talk about the color orange.Tatoeba #10267617 by small_snow, translation #6467212 by heo598
- Mikan wa anata no suki na kudamono desu ka? (蜜柑はあなたの好きな果物ですか？)Do you like oranges?
- Orenji wa daisuki desu (オレンジは大好きです)I love oranges.
- 69 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori and Ren are preparing a fruit salad together.
- 陽葵 Himariオレンジを切ってくれる？orenji o kitte kureru?Can you cut the orange for me?
- 蓮 Renいいよ。オレンジはどこにある？ii yo. orenji wa doko ni aru?Sure. Where is the orange?
- 陽葵 Himari冷蔵庫の中に置いてあるよ。reizōko no naka ni oite aru yo.It's in the refrigerator.
- 蓮 Renわかった。このオレンジだね。wakatta. kono orenji da ne.Got it. This orange, right?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “orange” translations and entries オレンジ, 蜜柑, 橙, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries オレンジ, 橙, 蜜柑, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
