Japanese Colors Kanji: Learn Color Words in Japanese
Master Japanese color kanji: 赤 (aka), 青 (ao), 白 (shiro), 黒 (kuro), and more. Each color includes the kanji character, hiragana reading, romaji pronunciation, and example sentences to help you learn naturally.
Japanese Color Kanji at a Glance
🎨 Basic vs. Extended Colors
Japanese has 6 core color kanji (赤青白黒黄緑) with native Japanese readings. Most other colors use adjective forms or loanwords from English.
📝 Two Word Forms
Colors in Japanese often have two forms: a noun (赤 = red) and an adjective form ending in い or な (赤い = reddish, red-colored).
✅ JLPT N5 Essential
Basic color vocabulary is required for JLPT N5. Knowing 赤, 青, 白, 黒, and 黄 covers the most common exam questions.
Basic Japanese Color Kanji
These six color kanji are the foundation of Japanese color vocabulary. Learn their kanji forms, hiragana readings, and common usage.
| Color | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | Adjective Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 赤 | あか | aka | 赤い(akai) |
| Blue | 青 | あお | ao | 青い(aoi) |
| White | 白 | しろ | shiro | 白い(shiroi) |
| Black | 黒 | くろ | kuro | 黒い(kuroi) |
| Yellow | 黄 | き | ki | 黄色い(kiiroi) |
| Green | 緑 | みどり | midori | 緑の(midori no) |
All Japanese Color Kanji
Explore each color with its kanji, reading, and an example sentence used in everyday Japanese.
Example:
赤いりんごを食べました。
Akai ringo o tabemashita.
I ate a red apple.
Example:
青い空が好きです。
Aoi sora ga suki desu.
I like the blue sky.
Example:
白い雪が降っています。
Shiroi yuki ga futte imasu.
White snow is falling.
Example:
黒い猫が道を渡った。
Kuroi neko ga michi o watatta.
A black cat crossed the road.
Example:
黄色い花が咲いた。
Kiiroi hana ga saita.
Yellow flowers bloomed.
Example:
緑の木が並んでいます。
Midori no ki ga narande imasu.
Green trees are lined up.
Example:
茶色い犬を飼っています。
Chairo inu o katte imasu.
I have a brown dog.
Example:
紫の花束を贈りました。
Murasaki no hanataba o okurimashita.
I gave a purple bouquet.
Example:
桃色のドレスを着ていました。
Momoiro no doresu o kite imashita.
She was wearing a pink dress.
Example:
橙色の夕日が美しい。
Daidaiiro no yuuhi ga utsukushii.
The orange sunset is beautiful.
How to Use Colors in Japanese Grammar
Noun Form vs. Adjective Form
Many Japanese color words have both a noun form and an adjective form. The noun names the color; the adjective describes something as having that color.
Noun (color name):
赤 (あか / aka) = "red"
Used when naming or referring to the color itself.
Adjective (describing):
赤い (あかい / akai) = "is red"
Used to describe an object: 赤いりんご = "red apple"
Compound Color Words
Japanese creates compound colors by combining kanji. These are common in daily speech and writing.
| Compound | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 黄緑 | きみどり (kimidori) | Yellow-green / lime green |
| 水色 | みずいろ (mizuiro) | Light blue / sky blue (lit. water color) |
| 茶色 | ちゃいろ (chairo) | Brown (lit. tea color) |
| 桃色 | もものいろ (momonoiro) | Pink / peach color (lit. peach color) |
| 橙色 | だいだいいろ (daidaiiro) | Orange color |
| 灰色 | はいいろ (haiiro) | Gray (lit. ash color) |
| 金色 | きんいろ (kin'iro) | Gold / golden color |
| 銀色 | ぎんいろ (gin'iro) | Silver / silver color |
Tips for Remembering Japanese Color Kanji
🔴 Visual Association
The kanji 赤 (red) has strokes that look like embers or fire glowing upward. 白 (white) resembles a blank, empty window letting in pure light.
🃏 Use Flashcards
Practice color kanji with our card collection system. Earn XP, level up, and track which colors you've mastered in your personal Jisho.
📖 Learn in Context
Don't study colors in isolation. Learn them in phrases: 青い空 (blue sky), 白い雪 (white snow), 赤い花 (red flower). Context cements memory.
🎯 JLPT Priority
Focus on 赤, 青, 白, 黒, 黄 first; these five appear on JLPT N5. Once confident, expand to 緑, 茶, 紫, 橙, and 桃.
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