(あめいろ)

あめいろ
noun
amber color; caramel color
1. amber color; caramel color; honey color
A translucent golden-brown color resembling that of traditional Japanese hard candy. Commonly used to describe slowly caramelized onions, varnished wood, or aged objects.
(たま)ねぎを飴色(あめいろ)になるまで(いた)める。
Fry the onions until they turn caramel-colored.
(ふる)家具(かぐ)飴色(あめいろ)(かがや)いていた。
The old furniture glowed an amber color.
祖父(そふ)使(つか)()んだ(つくえ)長年(ながねん)使用(しよう)(うつく)しい飴色(あめいろ)になっていた。
My grandfather's well-used desk had taken on a beautiful amber color from years of use.

Composed of (あめ) (candy) + (いろ) (color). Often signals warmth, age, and quality — used positively for both cooked foods and well-aged wooden objects.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 飴色(あめいろ)(たま)ねぎ: caramelized onions
  • 飴色(あめいろ)になるまで(いた)める: to fry until caramel-colored
  • 飴色(あめいろ)家具(かぐ): amber-colored furniture

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • きつね(いろ): golden brown — describes the color of well-fried food (toast, tempura, fried chicken); lighter than 飴色(あめいろ)
  • 琥珀色(こはくいろ): amber color — more formal/literary; often used for whiskey, tea, and gemstones