真(ま)っ青(さお)

まっさお
na-adjective, noun
deep blue; pale (from shock/fear)
1. deep blue; bright blue
Intensely blue in color, typically describing sky or sea.
真(ま)っ青(さお)な空(そら)が広(ひろ)がっていた。
A deep blue sky spread out before us.
海(うみ)が真(ま)っ青(さお)で美(うつく)しかった。
The sea was a beautiful deep blue.
2. pale; ashen
Having lost color in the face due to shock, fear, or illness.
その知(し)らせを聞(き)いて、顔(かお)が真(ま)っ青(さお)になった。
Upon hearing the news, my face turned pale.

WORD STRUCTURE:
真(ま)っ (emphatic prefix) + 青(あお)→青(さお) (blue)
Note the sound change from あお to さお.

TWO MEANINGS:
This word has seemingly opposite meanings:
1. Deep, vivid blue (positive)
2. Pale, ashen (negative - loss of color from fear/shock)

Context makes the meaning clear.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 顔(かお)が真(ま)っ青(さお)になる - to turn pale (from shock/fear)
  • 真(ま)っ青(さお)な空(そら) - deep blue sky
  • 真(ま)っ青(さお)な海(うみ) - deep blue sea

RELATED:

  • 真(ま)っ赤(か) - bright red (also used for "blatant")
  • 青(あお)ざめる - to turn pale

Related Words

Related: 真(ま)っ白(しろ) (pure white)
general
Added 2026.1.20 21:57 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
07500/07615_massao