{"id":106696,"date":"2023-03-24T18:19:52","date_gmt":"2023-03-24T22:19:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/japanese-colors\/"},"modified":"2025-02-26T00:52:46","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T05:52:46","slug":"japanese-colors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/japanese-colors\/","title":{"rendered":"Colors in Japanese: Vocabulary and Pronunciation"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you want to bring some life and vigor into your everyday speech<\/a>, knowing Japanese color words can help you do that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read on to learn how to name primary, secondary and basic colors as well as colors based on objects and foreign words. You’ll also learn how to use these words in Japanese.\u00a0<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Red: \u8d64 (\u3042\u304b, Aka<\/em>)<\/h2>\n

\u8d64 is a noun (“the color red”). The adjective for red, on the other hand, is \u8d64\u3044 (\u3042\u304b\u3044, akai<\/em>).<\/p>\n

\u8d64 is the most common word for “red,” encompassing a wide range of hues and shades, while \u7d05 (\u304f\u308c\u306a\u3044, kurenai<\/em>) is a deep, ruddy red, like the leaves that fall in the autumn or dark pink pickled ginger which is \u7d05\u30b7\u30e7\u30a6\u30ac (\u3079\u306b\u3057\u3087\u3046\u304c, beni shouga<\/em>).<\/p>\n

More Vocabulary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Autumn leaves, red and brown leaves: \u7d05\u8449 <\/strong>(\u3053\u3046\u3088\u3046, kouyou<\/em>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Maroon:\u00a0\u30de\u30eb\u30fc\u30f3 <\/strong>(\u307e\u308b\u30fc\u3093, maruun<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Shrimp or prawn: \u6d77\u8001<\/strong> (\u3048\u3073, ebi<\/em>), referring to ruddy, dark prawns, as opposed to bright pink shrimp.<\/p>\n

Blue: \u9752<\/strong> (\u3042\u304a, Ao<\/em>)<\/h2>\n

Another way of saying blue is \u9752\u3044 (\u3042\u304a\u3044, aoi<\/em>).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Blue and green have an interesting history<\/a>. Basically,\u00a0\u7dd1 originally referred to a type of plant shoot, not a color. It was only after WWII that educational materials began labeling “green” as\u00a0\u7dd1 and “blue” as\u00a0\u9752\u3044. Before then,\u00a0\u9752\u3044 was used exclusively to mean anything on the blue-green spectrum.<\/p>\n

The simplest distinction now is that non-living objects* that are entirely green (green books, green clothes, lime green cars) are\u00a0\u7dd1, and anything else that is slightly blue, or alive (or organic), is\u00a0\u9752\u3044.<\/p>\n

E.g., “green apples” are \u9752\u6797\u6a8e (\u3042\u304a\u308a\u3093\u3054, aoringo<\/em>) and “green peas” are \u9752\u8c46 (\u3042\u304a\u307e\u3081, aomame<\/em>).<\/p>\n

*Japanese traffic lights are \u9752\u4fe1\u53f7 (\u3042\u304a\u3057\u3093\u3054\u3046, aoshingou<\/em>), not \u7dd1\u4fe1\u53f7 (\u307f\u3069\u308a\u3057\u3093\u3054\u3046, midorishingou<\/em>).<\/p>\n

More Vocabulary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sky blue: \u7a7a\u8272 <\/strong>(\u305d\u3089\u3044\u308d, sorairo<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Navy blue: \u7d3a<\/strong> (\u3053\u3093, kon<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Bluish white, pale: \u9752\u767d\u3044<\/strong> (\u3042\u304a\u3058\u308d\u3044, aojiroi<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Yellow: \u9ec4\u8272 (\u304d\u3044\u308d, Kiiro<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Other ways of saying yellow include \u9ec4\u8272\u3044 (\u304d\u3044\u308d\u3044, kiiroi<\/em>) and \u9ec4\u8272\u306a (\u304d\u3044\u308d\u306a, k\u012brona<\/em>).\u00a0<\/p>\n

More Vocabulary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

To turn yellow with age (like paper or teeth):\u00a0\u9ec4\u3070\u3080<\/strong> (\u304d\u3070\u3080, kibamu<\/em>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pale yellow, light yellow: \u6de1\u9ec4\u8272 <\/strong>(\u305f\u3093\u304a\u3046\u3057\u3087\u304f, tanoushoku<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Greenish yellow:\u00a0\u7dd1\u9ec4\u8272 <\/strong>(\u308a\u3087\u304f\u304a\u3046\u3057\u3087\u304f, ryokuoushoku<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Chartreuse, pea green, yellow-green:\u00a0\u9ec4\u7dd1 <\/strong>(\u304d\u307f\u3069\u308a, kimidori<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Egg yolks:\u00a0\u5375\u9ec4 <\/strong>(\u3089\u3093\u304a\u3046, ranou<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Amber:\u00a0\u7425\u73c0\u8272<\/strong> (\u3053\u306f\u304f\u3044\u308d, kohakuiro<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Purple: \u7d2b (\u3080\u3089\u3055\u304d, Murasaki<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Another way of saying purple is \u30d1\u30fc\u30d7\u30eb (\u3071\u30fc\u3077\u308b, p\u0101puru<\/em>).\u00a0<\/p>\n

More Vocabulary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lavender: \u30e9\u30d9\u30f3\u30c0\u30fc <\/strong>(\u3089\u3079\u3093\u3060\u30fc, rabendaa<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Ultraviolet rays: \u7d2b\u5916\u7dda <\/strong>(\u3057\u304c\u3044\u305b\u3093, shigaisen<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Hydrangea: \u7d2b\u967d\u82b1<\/strong> (\u3042\u3058\u3055\u3044, ajisai<\/em>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mauve: \u85e4\u8272 <\/strong>(\u3075\u3058\u3044\u308d, fujiiro<\/em>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Green: \u7dd1<\/strong> (\u307f\u3069\u308a, Midori<\/em>)<\/h2>\n

\u7dd1 is a noun that you can use as an adjective by inserting the particle \u306e (of) after the color. E.g., \u7dd1\u306e\u672c (\u307f\u3069\u308a\u306e \u307b\u3093, midorinohon<\/em> \u2014 the green book).<\/p>\n

More Vocabulary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Japanese green tea: \u7dd1\u8336<\/strong> (\u308a\u3087\u304f\u3061\u3083, ryokucha<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Orange: \u30aa\u30ec\u30f3\u30b8\u8272<\/strong> (\u304a\u308c\u3093\u3058\u3044\u308d, Orenjiiro<\/em>)<\/h2>\n

For example, both the color and the fruit “orange” are \u30aa\u30ec\u30f3\u30b8 (\u304a\u308c\u3093\u3058, orenji<\/em>), obviously taken from English.\u00a0<\/p>\n

White:\u00a0\u767d <\/strong>(\u3057\u308d, Shiro<\/em>)<\/h2>\n

More Vocabulary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blank paper, white paper: \u767d\u7d19 <\/strong>(\u306f\u304f\u3057, hakushi<\/em>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

White board, dry erase board: \u767d\u677f <\/strong>(\u306f\u304f\u3070\u3093, hakuban<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Swan: \u767d\u9ce5 <\/strong>(\u306f\u304f\u3061\u3087\u3046, hakuchou<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Egg whites:\u00a0\u5375\u767d <\/strong>(\u3089\u3093\u3071\u304f, ranpaku<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Ivory: \u8c61\u7259\u8272<\/strong> (\u305e\u3046\u3052\u3044\u308d, zougeiro<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Black: \u9ed2<\/strong> (\u304f\u308d, Kuro<\/em>)<\/h2>\n

More Vocabulary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pitch black, deep black:\u00a0\u771f\u3063\u9ed2 <\/strong>(\u307e\u3063\u304f\u308d, makkuro<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Dark, blackish:\u00a0\u9ed2\u3063\u307d\u3044 <\/strong>(\u304f\u308d\u3063\u307d\u3044, kuroppoi<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Blackboard, chalkboard: \u9ed2\u677f<\/strong> (\u3053\u304f\u3070\u3093, kokuban<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Black tea:\u00a0\u7d05\u8336 <\/strong>(\u3053\u3046\u3061\u3083, koucha<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Pink:\u00a0\u30d4\u30f3\u30af (Pinku<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

More Vocabulary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pink: \u6843\u8272<\/strong> (\u3082\u3082\u3044\u308d, momoiro<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Cherry blossom pink: \u685c\u8272<\/strong> (\u3055\u304f\u3089\u3044\u308d, sakurairo<\/em>)<\/p>\n

\u685c (\u3055\u304f\u3089, sakura<\/em>) means “cherry blossom,” so this is the type of gentle pink you’d see in the early spring when cherry blossoms are in full bloom.<\/p>\n

Gray: \u7070\u8272<\/strong> (\u306f\u3044\u3044\u308d, Haiiro<\/em>)<\/h2>\n

Some words, like \u7070\u8272 and \u6843\u8272 come from the objects they describe: \u7070 (\u306f\u3044, hai<\/em>) means “ash,” so \u7070\u8272 is the color of gray\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>ash, and \u6843 (\u3082\u3082, momo<\/em>) is “peach,” and because Japanese peaches are pinkish<\/em>-white, this color means the pale red pink.<\/p>\n

More Vocabulary:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gray hair: \u767d\u9aea <\/strong>(\u306f\u304f\u306f\u3064, hakuhatsu<\/em>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Brown: \u8336\u8272 (\u3061\u3083\u3044\u308d, Chairo<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u8336 (\u3061\u3083, cha<\/em>) means “tea,” and because most tea in Japan is brownish (even green tea is sometimes brown), “brown” is “tea color,” or \u8336\u8272.<\/p>\n

These words are used for most things that are brown, with a few other options depending on the hue of brown to which you’re referring, but one exception that may throw you off is with skin color.<\/p>\n

In Japan, “brown skin” is actually called “black skin,” meaning people with dark skin or tans are often referred to as “black.”<\/p>\n

If you want to go get a suntan, you would say “I want to make my skin black<\/strong>” or (\u808c\u3092\u9ed2\u304f\u3057\u305f\u3044\u3002\/\u306f\u3060\u3092\u304f\u308d\u304f\u3057\u305f\u3044\u3002)<\/p>\n

\u85e4 (\u3075\u3058, fuji<\/em>) means “wisteria,” like the lavender-budded trees that form the wisteria tunnel in Fukuoka Prefecture<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gold: \u91d1<\/strong> (\u304d\u3093, Kin<\/em>)<\/h2>\n

More Vocabulary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Golden: \u91d1\u8272<\/strong> (\u304d\u3093\u3044\u308d, Kiniro<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Silver:\u00a0<\/strong>\u9280<\/strong> (\u304e\u3093, Gin<\/em>)<\/h2>\n

More Vocabulary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Silver: \u9280\u8272<\/strong> (\u304e\u3093\u3044\u308d, Giniro<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Multicolored: \u591a\u8272\u306e (\u305f\u3057\u3087\u304f\u306e, Tashoku<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

More Vocabulary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Varicolored: \u8272\u3068\u308a\u3069\u308a\u306e<\/strong> (\u3044\u308d\u3068\u308a\u3069\u308a\u306e, irotoridori<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Colorful: \u30ab\u30e9\u30d5\u30eb\u306a<\/strong> (\u304b\u3089\u3075\u308b\u306a, karafuru<\/em>)<\/p>\n

How to Use\u00a0Japanese Color Words<\/h2>\n

Japanese color words can be \u3044-adjectives, \u306a-adjectives, \u306e-adjectives<\/strong> (nouns turned into adjectives) or nouns.<\/strong> For example, “red” can either describe an object (“a red apple”) or act on its own as a noun (“red is my favorite color”).<\/p>\n

Therefore, you can use the colors in the same way you would use any other noun or adjective.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u8d64\u3044<\/strong>\u82b1\u3067\u3059\u3002
\n(\u3042\u304b\u3044<\/strong>\u306f\u306a\u3067\u3059\u3002)
\nIt is a red flower.<\/p>\n

\u82b1\u304c\u8d64\u3044<\/strong>\u3067\u3059\u3002
\n(\u306f\u306a\u304c\u3042\u304b\u3044<\/strong>\u3067\u3059\u3002)
\nThe flower is red.<\/p>\n

\u597d\u304d\u306a\u8272\u306f\u8d64<\/strong>\u3067\u3059\u3002
\n(\u3059\u304d\u306a\u3044\u308d\u306f \u3042\u304b<\/strong>\u3067\u3059\u3002)
\nMy preferred color is red.<\/p>\n

\u8d64<\/strong>\u304c\u597d\u304d\u3067\u3059\u3002
\n(\u3042\u304b<\/strong>\u304c\u3059\u304d\u3067\u3059\u3002)
\nI like red.<\/p>\n

If you want to discover other interesting ways of using color words in Japanese, try watching authentic videos with the learning program FluentU<\/a>.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \"FluentU\r\n

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