濃色(のうしょく)

のうしょく
noun, no-adjective
dark color; deep color
writtencolorappearance
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)のスーツを選(えら)んだ。
I chose a dark-colored suit.
This soy sauce is dark in color and rich in flavor.
Dark-colored clothing tends to bleed, so please wash it separately.

Compound of 濃(のう) ('thick; dense; dark') and 色(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 濃(こ)い色(いろ) ('dark color').

Usage

  • Frequently seen on clothing care labels: 濃色(のうしょく)は別洗(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)の生地(きじ) ('dark-colored fabric').

Common collocations

  • 濃色(のうしょく)の衣類(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)系(けい): dark color range
  • 濃色(のうしょく)と淡色(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
  • 濃(こ)い色(いろ): dark color — the everyday spoken equivalent