1.
navy blue, dark blue
A deep, dark shade of blue. One of the traditional Japanese colors, historically associated with indigo dyeing. Commonly used for school uniforms and business attire in Japan.
紺色のスーツを着ている。
I'm wearing a navy blue suit.
学校の制服は紺色だった。
The school uniform was navy blue.
紺色は日本で最もフォーマルな色のひとつとされている。
Navy blue is considered one of the most formal colors in Japan.
USAGE:
Can function as a no-adjective: 紺色の + noun. Often shortened to 紺 in casual speech or compounds.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 紺色のスーツ: navy blue suit
- 紺色の制服: navy blue uniform
- 濃い紺色: deep navy blue
CULTURE:
紺色 is one of the traditional Japanese colors (和色), produced through repeated indigo (藍) dyeing. It has long been a popular color in Japan and is sometimes called "紺は藍より出でて藍より青し," a proverb meaning the student surpasses the master.