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)だ。
It's a deep blue sky.
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.
真(ま)っ青(さお)な空(そら)の下(した)、子供(こども)たちが元気(げんき)に走(はし)り回(まわ)っていた。
Under the deep blue sky, the children were running around energetically.
2. pale; ashen
Having lost color in the face due to shock, fear, or illness.
顔(かお)が真(ま)っ青(さお)になった。
My face turned pale.
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.
財布(さいふ)をなくしたことに気(き)づいて、真(ま)っ青(さお)になって探(さが)し回(まわ)った。
When I realized I had lost my wallet, I turned pale and searched all over.

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 2026.3.17 14:32
07500/07615_massao