色気(いろけ)

いろけ
noun
sex appeal; charm; allure
appearance
1. sex appeal; charm; allure
An attractive quality suggesting sensuality or romantic appeal. Can describe both men and women.
色気(いろけ)のある人(ひと)だ。
That person has sex appeal.
あの俳優(はいゆう)は大人(おとな)の色気(いろけ)がある。
That actor has a mature charm.
彼女(かのじょ)のダンスには色気(いろけ)があって、観客(かんきゃく)を魅了(みりょう)した。
Her dancing had an allure that captivated the audience.
2. desire; interest; ambition
A desire or aspiration for something, often used in the expression 色気(いろけ)を出(だ)す (to show interest/ambition for something beyond one's usual scope).
色気(いろけ)を出(だ)すな。
Don't get greedy.
社長(しゃちょう)のポストに色気(いろけ)を出(だ)す。
To show ambition for the company president position.
余計(よけい)な色気(いろけ)を出(だ)したせいで、かえって失敗(しっぱい)してしまった。
Because I got greedy and tried for too much, I ended up failing instead.

Composed of 色(いろ) (color, but also romantic/sexual connotation) and 気(け) (air, feeling). The word carries a range from subtle allure to overt sensuality depending on context.

Common collocations

  • 色気(いろけ)がある — to have sex appeal
  • 色気(いろけ)を出(だ)す — to show interest/ambition (sense 2); to try to be seductive (sense 1)
  • 色気(いろけ)たっぷり — full of allure
  • 大人(おとな)の色気(いろけ) — mature charm
  • 色気(いろけ)より食(く)い気(け) — appetite over romance (proverb)

Similar words

  • 魅力(みりょく) — charm, attractiveness (broader, not necessarily sexual)
  • セクシー — sexy (direct loanword, more casual)
  • 艶(つや) — gloss, luster, also used for sensual beauty (literary)

Related Words

Compare: 魅力(みりょく) (charm, attractiveness)
Compare: 艶(つや) (gloss, luster, also used for sensual…)
Compare: 官能(かんのう) (sensuality)
general
Added 2026.3.25 13:43 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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