色(いろ)

いろ
noun
color
1. color
A visual property of objects resulting from the light they reflect. Used to describe the hue of things like clothes, objects, or nature.
何(なに)色(いろ)が好(す)き?
What color do you like?
なにいろ is the common way to ask about colors
この色(いろ)はきれいですね。
This color is beautiful, isn't it?
赤(あか)い色(いろ)のかばんがほしいです。
I want a red-colored bag.
空(そら)の色(いろ)がとてもきれいです。
The color of the sky is very beautiful.
秋(あき)になると、木(き)の葉(は)の色(いろ)が変(か)わります。赤(あか)や黄色(きいろ)になってきれいです。
In autumn, the color of tree leaves changes. They turn red and yellow and are beautiful.

色(いろ) means color and is used both independently and as a suffix with color words.

BASIC COLORS:

  • 赤(あか): red
  • 青(あお): blue/green
  • 黄色(きいろ): yellow
  • 白(しろ): white
  • 黒(くろ): black

USAGE:
As a suffix, 色(いろ) creates formal color terms: 赤色(あかいろ) (red color), 青色(あおいろ) (blue color). In everyday speech, the shorter forms (赤(あか)、青(あお)) are more common.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 何(なに)色(いろ): what color
  • 色(いろ)が変(か)わる: to change color
  • 色々(いろいろ): various, all kinds of
  • 顔色(かおいろ): complexion, facial expression

NOTE:
色(いろ) can also refer to complexion (顔色(かおいろ)が悪(わる)い - looking pale/unwell) or romantic/sensual matters in certain expressions.

basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:18 · Revised 2026.2.19 10:55
00500/00849_iro