Non-native speakers are sometimes confused at the Japanese usage of names of colors. For example, why are there "オレンジ色のセーター (orenji iro no se-ta- : orange sweater)", "緑のシャツ (midori no shatsu : green shirt)" and "赤いマフラー (akai mafura- : red muffler)"? Or which should I use "茶色い帽子 (chairoi bo-shi : brown cap)" or "茶色の帽子 (chairo no bo-shi : brown cap)?
These examples indicate that the names of colors can be classified into four types in Japanese. That is;
(1) adjectives
(2) specific concrete noun + iro (color) + no (of)
(3) specific abstract noun + no (of)
(4) transforming types
The modern Japanese language has only six adjectives about colors, now. The four ones are from original ancient adjectives and the two are transforming types (I will explain them later, in transforming types). However, the others are originally based on the names of specific things. Today, I will explain the first one, adjectives.
The four adjectives are "赤い", "黒い", "白い" and "青い". They means red, black, white and blue today, although they were all from the matters of light in ancient ages.
The couple of red and black indiated to be light or dark in the old days. "赤い (あかい: akai : red)" has the same origin to "明るい (あかるい : akarui : light)" and "明ける (あける : akeru : day breaks), and "黒い (くろい : kuroi : black)" has the same origin to "暗い (くらい : kurai : dark) and "暮れる (くれる : kureru : night falls).
The other couple of white and blue indicated to be clear or dull, although their origins remain less conspicuous than those of red and black. "白い (しろい : shiroi : white)" has the same origin to "著しい (いちじるしい: ichijirushii : remarkable)" and "印 (しるし: shirushi : mark)". I think that something white looked enough clear to be found in the anciant times without electric lights. The origin of "青い (あおい : aoi : blue)" does not remains in the modern Japanese language, but some people say that it has the same origin to "淡い（あわい：awai：pale）". I think "青い" was adopted to something dull, not clear.
As you know, there are three concepts of explaining colors --brightness, chroma and color phase(hue?). I think ancient Japanese people did not mind about the color phase but regarded the brightness and the chroma as greater importance.
In modern Japanese language has only four adjectives of colors which was from ancient vocabularies about light.
Thank you for reading!
Japanese expressions of colors (2) four adjectives (2)
These examples indicate that the names of colors can be classified into four types in Japanese. That is;
(1) adjectives
(2) specific concrete noun + iro (color) + no (of)
(3) specific abstract noun + no (of)
(4) transforming types
The modern Japanese language has only six adjectives about colors, now. The four ones are from original ancient adjectives and the two are transforming types (I will explain them later, in transforming types). However, the others are originally based on the names of specific things. Today, I will explain the first one, adjectives.
The four adjectives are "赤い", "黒い", "白い" and "青い". They means red, black, white and blue today, although they were all from the matters of light in ancient ages.
The couple of red and black indiated to be light or dark in the old days. "赤い (あかい: akai : red)" has the same origin to "明るい (あかるい : akarui : light)" and "明ける (あける : akeru : day breaks), and "黒い (くろい : kuroi : black)" has the same origin to "暗い (くらい : kurai : dark) and "暮れる (くれる : kureru : night falls).
The other couple of white and blue indicated to be clear or dull, although their origins remain less conspicuous than those of red and black. "白い (しろい : shiroi : white)" has the same origin to "著しい (いちじるしい: ichijirushii : remarkable)" and "印 (しるし: shirushi : mark)". I think that something white looked enough clear to be found in the anciant times without electric lights. The origin of "青い (あおい : aoi : blue)" does not remains in the modern Japanese language, but some people say that it has the same origin to "淡い（あわい：awai：pale）". I think "青い" was adopted to something dull, not clear.
As you know, there are three concepts of explaining colors --brightness, chroma and color phase(hue?). I think ancient Japanese people did not mind about the color phase but regarded the brightness and the chroma as greater importance.
In modern Japanese language has only four adjectives of colors which was from ancient vocabularies about light.
Thank you for reading!
Japanese expressions of colors (2) four adjectives (2)
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