紅(べに)

べに
noun
rouge, crimson red, lipstick
color
1. rouge, lipstick, red cosmetic
A red cosmetic applied to the lips or cheeks. Traditionally made from safflower petals. In modern use, often refers to lipstick.
紅(べに)をさす。
Apply rouge.
舞妓(まいこ)さんが真(ま)っ赤(か)な紅(べに)を唇(くちびる)に塗(ぬ)っている。
The maiko is applying bright red rouge to her lips.
紅花(べにばな)から紅(べに)を作(つく)る技術(ぎじゅつ)は古(ふる)くから伝(つた)わっている。
The technique of making rouge from safflower has been passed down since ancient times.
2. crimson, deep red color
A vivid, deep red color. Used as a color term, especially in traditional or literary contexts.
紅(べに)に染(そ)まった紅葉(もみじ)が美(うつく)しい。
The autumn leaves dyed crimson are beautiful.
夕日(ゆうひ)が空(そら)を紅(べに)に染(そ)めた。
The setting sun dyed the sky crimson.
庭(にわ)の紅(べに)椿(つばき)が一輪(いちりん)咲(さ)いていた。
A single crimson camellia was blooming in the garden.

Usage

The phrase 紅(べに)をさす (apply rouge) is the classic collocation. As a color, 紅(べに) has a more traditional, literary feel than 赤(あか) (red). It appears in many compounds such as 紅花(べにばな) (safflower), 紅(べに)鮭(ざけ) (sockeye salmon), and 口紅(くちべに) (lipstick).

Forms

The kanji 紅(べに) can also be read as くれない, which is a more poetic reading for the crimson color.

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 紅(くれない) (crimson)
Compare: 朱(しゅ) (vermillion)
general
Added 2026.2.27 14:46 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13862_beni