(のうしょく)

のうしょく
noun
dark color; deep color
1. dark color; deep color; rich hue
A color that is dark, deep, or richly saturated — as opposed to a light or pale shade. Used as a general descriptor for any deeply saturated color, commonly in contexts involving clothing, dyes, food, beverages, and industrial products.
濃色(のうしょく)のスーツを(えら)んだ。
I chose a dark-colored suit.
この醤油(しょうゆ)濃色(のうしょく)(あじ)()い。
This soy sauce is dark in color and rich in flavor.
濃色(のうしょく)衣類(いるい)色落(いろお)ちしやすいので()けて(あら)ってください。
Dark-colored clothing tends to bleed, so please wash it separately.

Compound of (のう) ('thick; dense; dark') and (しょく) ('color'). A somewhat technical or formal term that appears commonly on product labels, care instructions, and in descriptions of food and beverages. In everyday speech, people more often say ()(いろ) ('dark color').

USAGE:

  • Frequently seen on clothing care labels: 濃色(のうしょく)別洗(べつあら)い ('wash dark colors separately').
  • In the beer and soy sauce industries, 濃色(のうしょく) describes darker varieties: 濃色(のうしょく)ビール ('dark beer'), 濃色(のうしょく)醤油(しょうゆ) ('dark soy sauce').
  • Can function as a noun modifier with の: 濃色(のうしょく)生地(きじ) ('dark-colored fabric').

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 濃色(のうしょく)衣類(いるい): dark-colored clothing
  • 濃色(のうしょく)ビール: dark beer
  • 濃色(のうしょく)(けい): dark color range
  • 濃色(のうしょく)淡色(たんしょく): dark and light colors

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 淡色(たんしょく): light color; pale color — the antonym, used in the same formal/technical contexts
  • 暗色(あんしょく): dark color — emphasizes darkness or dimness rather than saturation
  • ()(いろ): dark color — the everyday spoken equivalent