顔色

See also: 顏色 and 颜色

Japanese

Etymology

Kanji in this term
顔	色
かお Grade: 2	いろ Grade: 2
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
顏色 (kyūjitai)

Kanji in this term
顔	色
がん Grade: 2	しょく Grade: 2
on'yomi

Alternative spelling
顏色 (kyūjitai)

Noun

顔(かお)色(いろ) or 顔(がん)色(しょく) • (kaoiro or ganshoku) 

1. complexion, the appearance of one's face due to skin color or blood flow

   彼(かれ)の顔色(かおいろ)が良(よ)くない。

   Kare no kaoiro ga yokunai.

   He looks pale [sickly].

2. facial expression

   彼(かれ)は、その意見(いけん)に関(かん)して、私(わたし)の顔色(かおいろ)をうかがった。

   Kare wa, sono iken ni kanshite, watashi no kaoiro o ukagatta.

   He could tell what I thought of that idea from the look on my face.

Synonyms

• (complexion): 血色(けっしょく) (kesshoku)
• (facial expression): 面持(おもも)ち (omomochi)

References

• 2002, Ineko Kondō; Fumi Takano; Mary E Althaus; et. al., Shogakukan Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary, Third Edition, Tokyo: Shōgakukan, →ISBN.