色

On'yomi

ショク・シキ

SHOKU / SHIKI

Kun'yomi

いろ

iro

color

Details

Strokes6

Frequency#621

Radical色color(6)

Old Form色

Description

Colour - complexion and hue in one character, reaching from the visible to the sensual.

Stroke Order

Strokes6

Cultural Context

Etymology

Shape of person kneeling. Complexion, color.

Symbolism

Color, feature, sensuality. Represents vision and sensibility.

Words & Expressions

Words written with 色

灰色はいいろgrey

茶色ちゃいろbrown

橙色だいだいいろorange

黄色きいろyellow

水色みずいろaqua

Four-Character Compounds

喜色満面

きしょくまんめん

being all smiles with joy

古色蒼然

こしょくそうぜん

antique-looking; looking hoary with patina

巧言令色

こうげんれいしょく

flattery; honeyed words

才色兼備

さいしょくけんび

(a woman) being gifted with both intelligence and beauty

十人十色

じゅうにんといろ

several men, several minds; everyone has his own (ideas, tastes, interests, etc.); different strokes for different folks

色即是空

しきそくぜくう

form is emptiness; matter is void; all is vanity

空即是色

くうそくぜしき

emptiness is form; illusion of the reality of matter

神色自若

しんしょくじじゃく

perfect composure; calm and collected

暮色蒼然

ぼしょくそうぜん

dusky; somber light of a gathering dusk

無色透明

むしょくとうめい

colorless and transparent

Poetry

和歌（百人一首） (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

花の色はうつりにけりないたづらにわが身世にふるながめせしまに

The colour of the blossoms has faded, all for nothing, while I gazed at the long rains and my own beauty passed.

小野小町Ono no Komachi

9th century

和歌（百人一首） (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

しのぶれど色に出でにけりわが恋は物や思ふと人の問ふまで

I hid it, and yet it has shown in my face; my love, until people ask me what is on my mind.

平兼盛Taira no Kanemori

10th century

和歌（百人一首） (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

見せばやな雄島のあまの袖だにも濡れにぞ濡れし色は変はらず

I wish I could show you. Even the fisherfolk's sleeves at Ojima, soaked through, do not change colour as mine have.

殷富門院大輔Inpumon'in no Taifu

12th century