濃淡(のうたん)

のうたん
noun
shade; density; gradation
1. shade; gradation; depth of color
The variation between dark and light shades; the intensity of color.
色(いろ)の濃淡(のうたん)をつける。
To add gradation to the colors.
墨(すみ)の濃淡(のうたん)で表現(ひょうげん)する。
To express through variations in ink shade.
この水彩画(すいさいが)は濃淡(のうたん)の使(つか)い方(かた)がとても上手(じょうず)だ。
This watercolor painting uses gradation very skillfully.
2. density; concentration
The degree of thickness or intensity.
関心(かんしん)の濃淡(のうたん)がある。
There are varying degrees of interest.
各国(かっこく)の対応(たいおう)には濃淡(のうたん)がある。
There are differences in the degree of each country's response.
地域(ちいき)によって被害(ひがい)の濃淡(のうたん)に大(おお)きな差(さ)がある。
There are large differences in the degree of damage depending on the region.

濃淡(のうたん) describes the range between dark and light, thick and thin, or strong and weak. It combines 濃(のう) (dense, dark) and 淡(たん) (light, faint).

LITERAL USE (art/design):

  • 色(いろ)の濃淡(のうたん): color gradation
  • 濃淡(のうたん)をつける: to add gradation/shading
  • 墨(すみ)の濃淡(のうたん): ink gradation

FIGURATIVE USE:

Describes varying degrees of intensity in abstract contexts:

  • 関心(かんしん)の濃淡(のうたん): varying degrees of interest
  • 各国(かっこく)の対応(たいおう)に濃淡(のうたん)がある: countries' responses vary in intensity

ART CONTEXT:
A fundamental concept in Japanese ink painting (水墨画(すいぼくが)) and calligraphy, where controlling the darkness of ink strokes is essential to artistic expression.

Related Words

Related: 明暗(めいあん) (light and darkness)
general
Added 2026.1.16 17:11 · Revised 2026.4.14 16:13
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