色彩(しきさい)

しきさい
noun
color, coloring
formalwrittencolor
1. color, coloring, hue
Color in a broad, somewhat literary or artistic sense. Refers to the overall coloring or palette of something rather than a single specific color.
色彩(しきさい)豊(ゆた)かな絵画(かいが)だ。
It's a painting rich in color.
南国(なんごく)の花(はな)は鮮(あざ)やかな色彩(しきさい)を持(も)っている。
Tropical flowers have vivid coloring.
色彩(しきさい)感覚(かんかく)に優(すぐ)れたデザイナーだ。
She is a designer with an excellent sense of color.
2. character, tone, flavor
The distinctive quality or character of something, used figuratively to describe the nature or atmosphere of a place, work, or situation.
宗教的(しゅうきょうてき)な色彩(しきさい)の強(つよ)い祭(まつ)りだ。
It's a festival with a strong religious character.
この映画(えいが)は政治的(せいじてき)色彩(しきさい)が濃(こ)い。
This film has a strong political tone.
地域(ちいき)ごとに独特(どくとく)の文化的(ぶんかてき)色彩(しきさい)がある。
Each region has its own distinctive cultural character.

Usage

色彩(しきさい) is more literary and elevated than 色(いろ) (the everyday word for color). Use 色彩(しきさい) when discussing art, design, aesthetics, or when writing formally. In casual speech, 色(いろ) is preferred.

The figurative sense (character/tone) overlaps with 色合(いろあ)い, but 色彩(しきさい) sounds more formal and is often used with 強(つよ)い or 濃(こ)い to describe a dominant quality.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 色合(いろあ)い (shade, hue, nuance)
general
Added 2026.2.27 16:50 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13956_shikisai