(そざいかん)

そざいかん
noun
texture; material feel; the tactile quality of a material
1. texture; material feel; the look and feel of a material
The tactile and visual impression that a material gives — its weight, smoothness, grain, sheen, or overall character. Used in fashion, interior design, cooking, and any context where the quality of raw materials matters.
この生地(きじ)素材感(そざいかん)がいい。
This fabric has a nice texture.
天然(てんねん)()素材感(そざいかん)()かしたデザインだ。
It's a design that makes the most of the natural wood's texture.
シンプルな料理(りょうり)ほど、素材感(そざいかん)大事(だいじ)になる。
The simpler the dish, the more the quality of the ingredients matters.

Composed of 素材(そざい) (raw material, ingredient) and (かん) (sense, feeling). The suffix (かん) turns a noun into a word about how something feels or is perceived, similar to English "-ness" or "sense of."

Widely used across creative fields. In fashion, it describes the drape and hand of fabric. In interior design, the character of wood, stone, or metal. In cooking, the freshness and quality of ingredients that comes through in the final dish.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 素材感(そざいかん)()かす: to make the most of the material's texture
  • 素材感(そざいかん)のある: having a rich/distinct texture
  • 素材感(そざいかん)(つた)わる: the texture comes through
  • 素材感(そざいかん)大切(たいせつ)にする: to value the natural feel of materials

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 手触(てざわ)り: the feel (to the touch) — specifically about tactile sensation
  • 質感(しつかん): texture; material quality — similar meaning but more formal/technical
  • 風合(ふうあ)い: texture; hand (of fabric) — traditional textile term