瑠璃色(るりいろ)

Composed of 瑠璃(るり) (lapis lazuli, a precious blue stone) and 色(いろ) (color). One of Japan's traditional color names (伝統色(でんとうしょく)), 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(るりいろ)の空(そら): deep blue sky
• 瑠璃色(るりいろ)の海(うみ): deep blue sea
• 瑠璃色(るりいろ)に光(ひか)る: to gleam in lapis blue

Cultural note

瑠璃(るり) is one of the Seven Treasures (七宝(しっぽう)) in Buddhism, and the color has spiritual associations. The 瑠璃光(るりこう)如来(にょらい) (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(あいいろ): indigo — darker and greener
• 紺色(こんいろ): navy blue — darker and more subdued
• 群青色(ぐんじょういろ): ultramarine — very similar, also derived from mineral pigments
• 青色(あおいろ): blue — the general color name