1.
primary color
One of the fundamental colors from which all other colors can be mixed — red, blue, and yellow in art, or red, green, and blue in light.
光の三原色は赤・緑・青だ。
The three primary colors of light are red, green, and blue.
原色を混ぜて新しい色を作る。
Mix primary colors to create new colors.
子どもの頃、美術の授業で原色について習った。
I learned about primary colors in art class as a child.
2.
vivid color; bold, unmixed color
By extension, any bright, saturated, pure color. Often used to describe bold or striking color choices in fashion, design, or nature.
原色の服が好きだ。
I like clothes in vivid colors.
南国の花は原色が鮮やかだ。
Tropical flowers have strikingly vivid colors.
原色を使った大胆なデザインが目を引く。
The bold design using vivid colors catches the eye.
USAGE:
In technical usage, 原色 refers strictly to primary colors in color theory. In everyday usage, it broadly describes any bold, saturated color that has not been softened or mixed — the kind of bright hues found in tropical scenery or pop art.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 三原色 (three primary colors)
- 原色の花 (vividly colored flowers)
- 原色を使う (to use vivid colors)
- 光の原色 (primary colors of light)
WORD FORMATION:
原 (original, fundamental) + 色 (color).