Japanese word

色素

Pronunciation

Romajishikiso

Meaning

  • nounpigment

Example

この色素は植物の葉にあります。ko no shiki so wa shoku butsu no ha ni a ri ma su

This pigment is found in plant leaves.

Illustration for 色素 (pigment)

More examples

この食品には、天然の色素が使われています。ko no shoku hin ni wa ten nen no shiki so ga tsuka wa re te i ma su

This food uses a natural pigment.

Core concept

Refers to a substance that gives an object or living thing its visible color by absorbing or reflecting parts of light.

Common phrases

  • 色素を作るshiki so o tsuku ru

    produce pigment

  • 色素を抽出するshiki so o chū shutsu su ru

    extract pigment

Similar words

顔料ganryō: An insoluble substance used to give color to paints, inks, plastics, and other materials.
染料senryō: A substance that dissolves in a liquid and colors materials such as cloth, paper, or leather.
着色料chakushokuryō: A substance added to food, medicine, or other products to give them a desired color.

Definition in Japanese

光の一部を吸収または反射して、物体や生物に色を与える物質。hikari no ichi bu o kyū shū ma ta wa han sha shi te but tai ya sei butsu ni iro o ata e ru bus shitsu

Word origin

The word 色素 (shikiso) joins 色 (shiki, "color") and 素 (so, "substance"), referring to a substance whose presence gives something its color.

Usage tips

  • Chlorophyll is a pigment in many leaves, where it absorbs light used in photosynthesis and gives the leaves their green color.

Other meanings

  • colorantnoun

Word lists with this word