1.
sex appeal; charm; allure
An attractive quality suggesting sensuality or romantic appeal. Can describe both men and women.
色気のある人だ。
That person has sex appeal.
あの俳優は大人の色気がある。
That actor has a mature charm.
彼女のダンスには色気があって、観客を魅了した。
Her dancing had an allure that captivated the audience.
2.
desire; interest; ambition
A desire or aspiration for something, often used in the expression 色気を出す (to show interest/ambition for something beyond one's usual scope).
色気を出すな。
Don't get greedy.
社長のポストに色気を出す。
To show ambition for the company president position.
余計な色気を出したせいで、かえって失敗してしまった。
Because I got greedy and tried for too much, I ended up failing instead.
Composed of 色 (color, but also romantic/sexual connotation) and 気 (air, feeling). The word carries a range from subtle allure to overt sensuality depending on context.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 色気がある — to have sex appeal
- 色気を出す — to show interest/ambition (sense 2); to try to be seductive (sense 1)
- 色気たっぷり — full of allure
- 大人の色気 — mature charm
- 色気より食い気 — appetite over romance (proverb)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 魅力 — charm, attractiveness (broader, not necessarily sexual)
- セクシー — sexy (direct loanword, more casual)
- 艶 — gloss, luster, also used for sensual beauty (literary)