Translation guide
The color brown in Japanese is most commonly expressed with 茶色 (chairo), literally 'tea color'. There are also specific terms for different shades and contexts, such as 褐色 for darker or formal browns, and 栗色 for chestnut brown. For hair and some objects, ブラウン (buraun) is used.
茶色
brown (color)
Describing something as brown in everyday situations.
The most common and neutral word for brown. Used for objects, clothes, etc.
この茶色の靴が好きです。
I like these brown shoes.
壁を茶色に塗った。
I painted the wall brown.
Loanword from English, often used in fashion, hair color, and product names. Sounds modern or stylish.
ブラウンのジャケットを探しています。
I'm looking for a brown jacket.
Describing a darker shade of brown, like coffee or chocolate.
Dark brown, literally 'burnt tea color'. Common for dark brown items.
焦げ茶色のソファが欲しい。
I want a dark brown sofa.
Loanword for dark brown, used in fashion and cosmetics.
ダークブラウンのアイシャドウを使った。
I used dark brown eyeshadow.
Describing hair color, either natural or dyed.
Specifically refers to brown hair, often dyed. Very common in casual contexts.
彼女は茶髪にしている。
She has brown hair (dyed).
Loanword, used in fashion and beauty contexts.
ブラウンヘアに染めたい。
I want to dye my hair brown.
Chestnut brown hair, often used in literature or poetic descriptions.
彼女は栗色の髪をなびかせていた。
Her chestnut brown hair was flowing.
Describing eye color.
Standard phrase for brown eyes.
彼は茶色の目をしている。
He has brown eyes.
Loanword version, common in casual speech.
ブラウンの目がきれいだね。
Your brown eyes are beautiful.
Describing tanned or naturally brown skin.
Literally 'wheat-colored skin', a common and positive way to describe tanned skin.
夏になって肌が小麦色になった。
My skin turned brown (tanned) in the summer.
More formal or literary term for brown/dark skin. Can be used for natural skin tones.
彼は褐色の肌をしている。
He has brown skin.
Specifically means suntanned skin, not necessarily brown but often implies a brownish tan.
日焼けした肌が健康的だ。
Tanned (brown) skin looks healthy.
Referring to the ingredient brown sugar.
The standard term for brown sugar in cooking. Literally 'black sugar'.
このレシピには黒砂糖が必要です。
This recipe requires brown sugar.
Loanword, often seen on menus or in trendy recipes.
ブラウンシュガーをかけて食べる。
Eat it with brown sugar sprinkled on top.
Referring to unpolished rice.
The standard term for brown rice. Literally 'dark rice'.
健康のために玄米を食べている。
I eat brown rice for my health.
Describing food that has been cooked until brown.
Describes food nicely browned, like toast or grilled meat. Often used as an adverb.
パンがこんがり焼けた。
The bread is nicely browned.
Golden brown, literally 'fox color'. Used for fried foods like tempura.
きつね色になるまで揚げる。
Deep-fry until golden brown.
茶色 is the everyday word for brown. 褐色 is more formal and often used for skin, leather, or in scientific contexts. ブラウン is a casual loanword common in fashion and beauty.
茶色 is a color word and is not used for food names like brown rice or brown sugar. Use 玄米 for brown rice and 黒砂糖 for brown sugar.