顔 料(がんりょう)

がんりょう

noun

pigment

1. pigment; coloring material

A fine powder or substance that gives color to paint, ink, cosmetics, or other materials. Unlike dyes, pigments are insoluble and remain as particles suspended in a medium.

天然(てんねん)顔料(がんりょう)を使(つか)う。

To use natural pigments.

この絵(え)の具(ぐ)には高品質(こうひんしつ)な顔料(がんりょう)が使(つか)われている。

High-quality pigments are used in this paint.

日本画(にほんが)では鉱物(こうぶつ)から作(つく)られた顔料(がんりょう)が伝統的(でんとうてき)に使(つか)われてきた。

In Japanese painting, pigments made from minerals have traditionally been used.

The kanji 顔(がん) here means 'color/appearance' (not 'face'), and 料(りょう) means 'material.' Pigments are distinguished from dyes (染料(せんりょう)) in that pigments are insoluble particles while dyes dissolve into the material they color.

Common collocations

天然(てんねん)顔料(がんりょう) — natural pigment
合成(ごうせい)顔料(がんりょう) — synthetic pigment
顔料(がんりょう)インク — pigment ink
無機(むき)顔料(がんりょう) — inorganic pigment

Similar words

染料(せんりょう) — dye (dissolves into material, unlike pigments)
塗料(とりょう) — paint, coating material (the finished product containing pigments)
色素(しきそ) — coloring matter, pigment (broader term, includes biological pigments like melanin)

Related Words

Compare: 染料(せんりょう) (dye (dissolves))

Compare: 塗料(とりょう) (paint, coating material)

Compare: 色素(しきそ) (coloring matter, pigment)

general

Added 2026.3.27 9:16 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

19500/19796_ganryou