1.
lapis lazuli blue; deep azure; ultramarine blue
A vivid, deep blue color reminiscent of the gemstone lapis lazuli. One of Japan's traditional color names, evoking a rich, jewel-like blue.
瑠璃色の空が広がっていた。
A deep azure sky stretched out before us.
海は瑠璃色に輝いていた。
The sea was shining in a deep lapis blue.
瑠璃色のガラスの器をお土産に買った。
I bought a lapis blue glass vessel as a souvenir.
Composed of 瑠璃 (lapis lazuli, a precious blue stone) and 色 (color). One of Japan's traditional color names (伝統色), carrying a sense of elegance and depth that plain "blue" does not convey. Frequently used in literary and poetic descriptions.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 瑠璃色の空: deep blue sky
- 瑠璃色の海: deep blue sea
- 瑠璃色に光る: to gleam in lapis blue
CULTURAL NOTE:
瑠璃 is one of the Seven Treasures (七宝) in Buddhism, and the color has spiritual associations. The 瑠璃光如来 (Medicine Buddha) is associated with this color. The Japanese bird オオルリ (blue-and-white flycatcher) also takes its name from this color.
SIMILAR COLORS:
- 藍色: indigo — darker and greener
- 紺色: navy blue — darker and more subdued
- 群青色: ultramarine — very similar, also derived from mineral pigments
- 青色: blue — the general color name