Japanese symbol for “complexion”
顔色
かおいろ
Romaji: kaoiro
complexion; skin tone; skin colour
In Japanese, complexion is 顔色, read かおいろ (kaoiro).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n complexion; skin tone; skin colour
- n countenance; look (on one's face); expression
Written forms: 顔色、顔いろ. Readings: かおいろ、がんしょく.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “complexion”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 色 | いろ iro | complexion; skin colour; skin color |
| 血色 | けっしょく kesshoku | complexion; colour; color |
| 色艶 | いろつや irotsuya | colour and lustre; color and luster; complexion |
| 面色 | めんしょく menshoku | expression; complexion |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 笑顔 | えがお egao | smiling face; smile |
| 顔ぶれ | かおぶれ kaobure | personnel; members; lineup (of a team) |
| 素顔 | すがお sugao | face with no make-up; unpainted face |
| 顔つき | かおつき kaotsuki | (outward) looks; features; face |
| 顔面 | がんめん ganmen | face (of person) |
| 黄色 | きいろ kiiro | yellow; amber |
| 色彩 | しきさい shikisai | colour; color; hue |
| 景色 | けしき keshiki | scenery; scene; landscape |
See also: Chinese symbol for “complexion”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.