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Meaning of the Color Pink: Symbolism, Common Uses, & More

Pink is the color of romance, feminine, and nurture 

This article is about the symbolism and meaning of the color pink, which is part of the Color Meaning Series.

For detailed information about other colors, check out the meaning of the colors.

Summary of the meanings of the color pink
Color pink meanings

Where can we find the meaning of pink?

Is it in the vibrant pink flowers in a park or in the sweet pink of bubble gum?

Maybe we can find it in the cute ribbon of a little girl or in the sugary cotton candy that brings us back to our childhood.

As the most feminine color of all, pink is associated with girls and everything sweet.

To give you a full picture of the symbolism and meanings of the color pink, we’ll also talk about its most common uses, company logos, chakra, gemstone, facts, quotes, and idioms.

Pink Color Meanings in Different Cultures

In keeping with color psychology, each color has a significant influence on our lives – from our behavior to mood.

Still, color associations are ambiguous and depend strongly on upbringing and each individual’s experience with specific colors.

For that reason, we will briefly nudge into the symbolism of pink in different cultures before jumping into its psychological meanings.

  • In Western cultures, pink is widely considered as the color of femininity and romance.
  • In Japan, pink is a popular color because of the cherry blossom, Japan’s unofficial flower.
  • In South Korea, pink symbolizes trust.

What Does the Color Pink Mean in the Bible?

According to the meaning of the colors in the Bible, pink is associated with healthy flesh, new life, heavenly care, feminine, and rose of Sharon.

Psychological Meaning of Pink

As a blend of red and white, pink has traits of both colors. On one side, it has the passion and action of red, and on the other side, it has the peacefulness and purity of white.

Pink charms with ease while calming those surrounding it. According to a study from 1981, light pink has (temporary) calming effects on people.

Handcuffs laying on a pink background

The pink studied, drunk-tank pink, also known as Baker-Miller pink, was used in prison cells to tone down the inmate’s aggression.[1]

However, its calming effects only occur during the initial exposure to the color. Inmates become agitated once they get used to the color. After all, pink also has some red traits.

In keeping with, the visitor’s locker room of Kinnick Stadium in Iowa is entirely pink to try to keep the opposite team less energetic and calmer.[2]

As a non-threatening color, pink is not only calming but also sweet, playful, approachable.

It’s a friendly color strongly associated with tenderness and nurture while conveying a sense of safety and vulnerability.

Color Pink Meaning

Pink relish in giving and receiving nurture. It evokes images of compassion and kindness while charming with harmony.

Because pink is so affectionate, it is a color that needs acceptance and support.

While it gives love without measures, pink also requires unconditional love to fulfill its need for attention, support, and care.

For instance, those who predominantly wear pink clothing might be subconsciously asking for attention.

Pink donut on a yellow plate
Pink is associated with sweet behaviors and things

More than anything, pink is the color of universal love – for oneself and others. It embodies all that is good in the world, showing an unmatched level of sympathy.

However, like a delicate and romantic color, pink is a gentle type of love. It bursts with romance and is especially appealing to women.

Actually, pink is associated with girls in our modern society, but it hasn’t always been like this. In fact, the pink and blue trend is relatively new, and for a while, it used to be the other way around.

Unlike red, pink represents romantic love rather than the heat of passion.

Blame white for that. The lightest color of all softens pink to an innocent and euphoric hue.

The color pink is highly upbeat and relish in boosting the morale of those who need comforting.

It oozes optimism and gives hope to a level where no obstacles are big enough. For instance, the pink ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness.

Pink and blue doughnuts
Is pink really a girl’s color?

Intuitive and insightful, the color pink is vibrant and glows creativity. Yet, sometimes it sees the world through rose-tinted glasses: it can be excessively optimistic and unrealistic.

As a child, pink is sweet and innocent, but sometimes it can also be naive and silly.

Considering that, pink might not be the best color to wear for job interviews – not predominantly at least.

Because it is linked to childhood, pink is associated with inexperience. It can lead to irritation and inspire feelings of weakness when overused.

In the same breath, pink is nostalgic and relishes walking down memory lane and dwelling on the past.

For that reason, pink is also very sensitive and overly cautious, leading to a lack of confidence and passiveness.

As a timid color, pink prefers to blend in, rather than being the star of the show.

Still, adding darker colors to a pink design adds strength and sophistication to it.

Pink sunglasses on a white hat
Pink sees the world through pink glasses

Physical Effects of Pink

Here are some of the physical effects of pink on us:

  • Energize – The red influence on pink assures brighter shades of this color give us energy.
  • Relaxing – On the white side, pink is a relaxing color and is known for toning down aggressive behavior, especially its pale tints.
  • Uplifting – Pink is a charming color that brings happy and optimistic thoughts.
  • Comforting – Because pink is such an optimistic color, it brings hope to those in need.

Personality Color Pink

Pink is an inherently sweet and charming color. If pink is your favorite color, or you’re attracted to pink things, you might have the personality color pink.

Meanings of Pink Shades

The combination of red and white, pink is a color where most shades have soft pigments. These are a few of them:

Rosewater: It represents love, romance, intimacy, and tenderness. This color is also associated with compassion and female strength.

  • Rosewater hex code: #EDAEC0

Hot pink: This bold shade of pink only reveals itself to make a statement. It is a youthful and playful color packed with energy and vibrancy.

  • Hot pink hex code: #FF69B4

Rose: It has a strong female association with love, passion, desire, warmth, and emotion.

  • Rose hex code: #FF007F

Fuchsia: It is linked to heightened energy, but also to shallowness. It is a color more associated with someone girly than feminine.

More Shades of Pink

Shades of pink
Shades of pink

These are a few different pink shades, tints, and tones: Candy, orchid, Barbie, baby pink, flamingo, salmon, hot, French, fiery, shocking, rose, lace, deep, baker Miller pink, cherry blossom, champagne, puce, quartz, dusty.

Most Common Uses of Pink

Pink is mostly used in female clothing, beauty products, candies, flavored strawberry foods, and girl’s toys.

Companies and Brands That Use Pink in Their Logo

Alongside brown, pink is one of the least chosen colors for logos.

Most brands that do use pink target female and young audiences or want to stand out from their competitor by making a statement. It is also used to promote sweet, edible products, beauty, and fashion.

Pink logos
Companies and brands that have pink logos

Pink Gemstone

Pink gemstones are believed to cultivate a feeling of unconditional love for yourself and others. It improves empathy and kindness.

Also, it brings serenity, relaxation, acceptance, and contentment.

Facts About Pink

  • Most people associate the smell of strawberries with the color pink.[3]
  • Male parakeets have blue noses, while female parakeets have light brown to pink noses.
  • Women attempt to improve their attractiveness during ovulation by wearing red and pink.[4]
  • Men who wear pink earn more than those who don’t and receive more compliments from female colleagues.[5]
  • Still, about ⅓ of women said a man wearing pink on the first date would put them off.[6]

Quotes About Pink

Here are some inspiring quotes about pink!

Pink isn’t just a color. It’s an attitude too.

Miley Cyrus
Quote about pink

Mauve? Mauve is just pink trying to be purple.

James Whistler
Quote about pink

Anything is possible with sunshine and a little pink.

Lilly Pulitzer
Quote about pink

Pink is the new black.

Diana Vreeland
Quote about pink

I fell off my pink cloud with a thud.

Elizabeth Taylor
Quote about pink

Popular Idioms With the Word Pink

  • Tickled pink: To be well pleased, amused.
  • Pink elephant: Hallucinations supposedly typical of those experienced by a drunk person.
  • In the pink: To be in perfect health condition.

Summary Color Pink Meaning

Feminine and sweet, pink is the color of nurture and unconditional love.

The blend of red and white relates to the love for oneself, family, and a partner, but unlike red, pink is more about romance than passion.

The influence of white makes pink a calming color that comforts those who have obstacles ahead of them.

That’s because pink is incredibly positive and sparks hope, however, it can be unrealistic and overly optimistic having a childish attitude.

Pink means: unconditional love, feminine, innocence, romance
Effects of pink: energizes, calms down, uplifting, comforts
Positive traits: compassion, sympathy, playful, delicate
Negative traits: over-optimism, unconfident, childish, unrealistic

Kayfields

Friday 6th of May 2022

I like. The. Color of. Pink. Candy. Love. The color. Of. Pink. In. Bed. With. Flower ๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒน