音色(ねいろ)

ねいろ
noun
tone; timbre; tone color
1. tone; timbre; tone color
The quality of a musical sound that distinguishes different instruments or voices playing the same pitch. Also used more broadly for the quality of any sound.
このピアノは美(うつく)しい音色(ねいろ)がする。
This piano has a beautiful tone.
彼女(かのじょ)の声(こえ)の音色(ねいろ)が好(す)きだ。
I like the tone of her voice.
バイオリンとチェロでは音色(ねいろ)が違(ちが)う。
The violin and cello have different timbres.

KANJI BREAKDOWN:

  • 音(おと/ね) - sound
  • 色(いろ) - color

The compound literally means "color of sound," capturing how timbre is the "color" that makes each instrument unique.

READING NOTE:
Also read as おんしょく in technical/academic contexts.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 美(うつく)しい音色(ねいろ) - beautiful tone
  • 独特(どくとく)の音色(ねいろ) - distinctive timbre
  • 温(あたた)かい音色(ねいろ) - warm tone
  • 澄(す)んだ音色(ねいろ) - clear tone

MUSICAL CONTEXT:

音色(ねいろ) is what allows us to distinguish:

  • A violin from a flute playing the same note
  • One singer from another
  • Different piano brands

RELATED VOCABULARY:

  • 音程(おんてい) - pitch, musical interval
  • 音量(おんりょう) - volume
  • 音質(おんしつ) - sound quality

REGISTER:
Neutral. Common in music discussions and everyday conversation.

general
Added 2026.1.19 17:13 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:14
07000/07422_neiro