Primary colors in Japanese seem easy, but you’d be surprised by how much culture and history go behind them. Granted, a lot of Japanese vocabulary is borrowed from English, which makes it easy for us to memorize it—but in Japanese culture, colors play an important part in representing feelings, rituals, and ceremonies.  

In Japanese, the words for specific colors are used differently depending on their parts of speech. There are two sets – one set is the Japanese, and the other is a Katakana loan word version. There are two ways: one set is Japanese, and the other is a Katakana loan word version of their English counterparts. Most colors in Japanese end with 色 except for a few exceptions and words borrowed from English. 

For example, the color “blue” can be both 青い (aoi) and ブルー (buruu).

Another example is the color orange. Even Japanese people will often opt for the loanword, オレンジ, instead of using the traditional Japanese word 橙色 (daidaiiro). 

For beginners in Japanese, it can be very confusing to know which context is appropriate for which version. In this article, we will explain how to describe objects with colors in Japanese.

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How Colors Work in Japanese

In Japanese, colors can function as nouns or adjectives, and they often come in two versions:

1. A native Japanese word
2. A katakana loanword borrowed from English

For example:

• “Blue” can be expressed as 青い (aoi) or ブルー (buruu).
• “Orange” is commonly said as オレンジ (orenji), even though a native word exists: 橙色 (daidaiiro).

Choosing between these versions depends on the context, which can be confusing for beginners. In this article, we’ll break down the rules and help you understand how to use colors naturally in Japanese.

Check out our Youtube video about Japanese colors! 

Nouns for Basic Colors in Japanese

English	Japanese	Furigana	Romaji	Katakana	Romaji
Red	赤	あか	Aka	レッド	Reddo
Orange	橙色	だいだいいろ	Daidaiiro	オレンジ	Orenji
Yellow	黄色	きいろ	Kiiro	イエロー	Ieroo
Green	緑	みどり	Midori	グリーン	Guriin
Blue	青	あお	Ao	ブルー	Buruu
Purple	紫	むらさき	Murasaki	パープル	Paapuru
Pink	桃色	ももいろ	Momoiro	ピンク	Pinku
Brown	茶色	ちゃいろ	Chairo	ブラウン	Buraun
Grey	灰色	はいいろ	Haiiro	グレイ	Gurei
Black	黒	くろ	Kuro	ブラック	Purakku
White	白	しろ	Shiro	ホワイト	Howaito

These words above are nouns that refer to different colors.  As a result, the particle “の(no)” is used when describing the color of something.  If you are not familiar with particles in Japanese, we recommend you to take a look at our basic Japanese grammar guide.

The basic sentence pattern for describing colors is color + の + subject.

For example:

みどりの窓口(まどぐち)
Midori no madoguchi
Green window (usually referring to the ticket office at a train station in Japan)

紫(むらさき)の靴下(くつした)
Murasaki no kutsushita
Purple socks.

👉 Not sure when to use の or な? Read our guide な-adjectives and の-adjectives.

Japanese Colors as Adjectives

Color can also be used as adjectives. Surprisingly, there are only 4 colors that will become an adjective when “い” is added directly to the back.

English	Japanese	Furigana	Romaji
Red	赤い	あかい	Akai
Blue	青い	あおい	Aoi
Black	黒い	くろい	Kuroi
White	白い	しろい	Shiroi

To use Japanese colors as adjectives, you can use them directly in front of a subject. For example:

あおい海(うみ)
Aoi umi
Blue sea

海(うみ)はあおいです。
Umi wa aoi desu
The sea is blue.

👉 Want to learn more about Japanese adjectives? Check out our Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Adjectives: な and い Adjectives

A Brief Guide on Japanese Colors

So why only four, and why are these colors special? It is because only four colors existed as the basic forms of color in the ancient Japanese language — or, at least, acknowledged: 白 shiro (white), 黒 kuro (black), 赤 aka (red) and 青 ao (blue).

The same can be seen in other basic color wheels. Kuro (くろ) and shiro (しろ) are used to describe things that are dark and light — cool and warm. The word あか covers a spectrum of dark red, orange and yellow, with lighter yellow colors grouped to しろ. Ki (黄) paints in shades of yellow, gold and lighter brown. Murasaki (むらさき) was once a name of a plant but eventually became a color name for purple, too.

Rather than actual colors, these words are used to group particular hues and shades. For example, different shades of blue in the past are now purple, gray, and green. 

Confusions Around Colors in Japanese

At first glance, Japanese colors seem straightforward, but some of them don’t follow the rules you’d expect. Here are two of the biggest sources of confusion:

1. Why 黄色い (kiiroi) and 茶色い (chairoi) Don’t Follow the Same Pattern

You might assume that 黄色 (kiiro, yellow) and 茶色 (chairo, brown) work just like 赤い (akai, red) or 青い (aoi, blue)—but they don’t. While 赤 and 青 can be used directly as adjectives (赤い, 青い), 黄 (ki) and 茶 (cha) need 色 (iro, “color”) to form proper words.

• 茶 (cha) originally meant tea, so “tea color” became 茶色 (chairo) rather than just 茶.
• 黄 (ki) referred to brightness rather than a specific hue, so it had to be combined with 色 to become 黄色 (kiiro, “yellow color”).

When used as adjectives, they follow a different rule:
✅ 黄色い (kiiroi), 茶色い (chairoi)
❌ 黄い (kii), 茶い (chai) (These forms don’t exist.)

This small but important difference is a common pitfall for Japanese learners.

2. The Blurred Line Between Blue and Green

One of the most unexpected quirks of Japanese is that 青 (ao, blue) was historically used for both blue and green. Even today, some green objects are still described as 青 instead of 緑 (midori, green).

For example:

• 青りんご (aoringo) → “Green apple”
• 青信号 (aoshingō) → “Green traffic light”

The word 緑 (midori) only became widely used after World War II, which explains why certain things are still labeled 青 even if they’re clearly green. 

This historical overlap can be confusing, but once you recognize the pattern, it starts to feel more natural!

To learn more about the differences and fun historical facts, check out our exploration on the difference between aoi and midori!

Meanings of Colors in Japanese Culture 

A lot of countries (and cultures) place importance on colors. While each tradition may not have the same ideals, specific colors generally represent positive or negative symbols. Depending on the meaning it represents, people might steer clear of wearing that color at a certain event — or, on the opposite, feel inclined to wear them. 

Symbolism in Japanese colors is heavily rooted in China and its traditional philosophies, which include Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. In the past, these philosophies affected the association of color with each social class of Japanese society. 

In other words, colors represent the values of life, particularly white, red, black and blue — the four primary colors in Japanese culture. This is why you’ll see that most Japanese clothing, architecture and events incorporate them. 

Meaning of White Color in Japanese Culture

White (白い)zztakes the majority of the Japanese flag — and for an important reason. As the color of the gods, it represents purity, both spiritual and physical, and reverence for divinity. In Buddhism, white was worn at funerals as it also means death, and funerals were often marked with white and black stripes. 

However, it was the focus of Shinto traditions (check out Japanese religion vocabulary here). You’ll notice white sand, pebbles, and decorations at shrines to honor the gods’ wisdom and knowledge. Emperors in Japan would be dressed in white for Shinto rituals, and brides would be covered in white dresses and head coverings for their weddings. 

Meaning of Red Color in Japanese Culture

The focal point of the Japanese national flag, red (赤い) symbolizes authority, strength and prosperity. This is why it is especially symbolic when paired with white. 

Red plays a dominant part in Japanese architecture. You’ll notice shrines and temples are painted in red, as it is believed the color can ward away evil spirits while strengthening the link between humans and gods in Shinto shrines. At festivals, people would cover the tables and floor with red cloth and carpets. 

Meaning of Black Color in Japanese Culture

Before Western influence, black (黒い) wasn’t always the color for mourning, but it did have a somewhat negative association. While purple represented the highest rank in the Japanese social class (royalty), black marked the lowest of them. The dark shade was tied to evil, bad luck, fear, and misfortune. 

Meaning of Blue Color in Japanese Culture

Blue dye, made from the indigo plant, was the most accessible (and affordable) color Japanese people could use to make clothing and textiles. As such, blue (青い)is the color of common people, worn on kimonos, formal attire, and common wear. 

Summary of Colors in Japanese Culture

Colors have a rich cultural significance in Japan, and their meaning and symbolism can vary depending on the context. Here are some examples:

• Red: Red is the color of the sun and is often associated with good luck, happiness, and prosperity. It is also the color of the Japanese flag and is used in many traditional Japanese festivals and ceremonies.
• White: White is the color of purity and is often associated with death and mourning. It is also the color of weddings and is worn by brides on their wedding day.
• Black: Black is the color of darkness and mystery. It is also the color of death and mourning. However, black is also associated with power and sophistication, and is often worn by business people and government officials.
• Blue: Blue is the color of the sky and the ocean. It is often associated with peace, calmness, and serenity. It is also the color of loyalty and trust, and is often worn by police officers and other government officials.
• Green: Green is the color of nature and is often associated with growth, fertility, and new beginnings. It is also the color of youth and vitality.

Other colors that have cultural significance in Japan include:

• Pink: Pink is the color of cherry blossoms, which are a symbol of spring and new beginnings. It is also associated with femininity and youth.
• Gold: Gold is the color of the sun and is associated with wealth, prosperity, and good luck. It is often used in temples and shrines, and is also used in traditional Japanese art and crafts.
• Purple: Purple is the color of the Japanese imperial family and is associated with royalty, luxury, and power. It is also associated with mystery and spirituality.
• Silver: Silver is the color of the moon and is associated with femininity, gentleness, and purity. It is also associated with wealth and prosperity.

How to Say Other Colors In Japanese

If you feel that the basic colors are too general, here are some Japanese words for more specific colors.

English	Japanese	Furigana	Romaji	Westernized	Romaji
Silver	銀	ぎん	Gin	シルバー	Shirubaa
Gold	金	きん	Kin	ゴールド	Goorudo
Rainbow clour	虹色	にじいろ	Nijiiro
Light Blue	水色	みずいろ	Mizuiro
Navy Blue	紺色	こんいろ	Koniro	ネービー	Neiibi
Purple	紫	むらさき	Murasaki	パープル	Paapuru
Yellowish Green	黄緑	きみどり	Kimidori
Beige				ベージュ	Beeju

Check out our Youtube video to practice! 

Regional Differences in Color Usage

Even though Japanese has standardized color names, some regional variations still exist. These differences often come from history, local dialects, and cultural influences.

One of the most well-known cases is 青 (ao, blue) being used for green. While modern Japanese distinguishes between 青 (blue) and 緑 (midori, green), older traditions persist, especially in official language. This is why green traffic lights are still called 青信号 (aoshingō, “blue light”), even though they are clearly green. In some rural areas, people may still refer to certain green landscapes or vegetables as 青 instead of 緑.

In historical and artistic contexts, specific regional color names exist that aren’t commonly used in daily life. For example, 浅葱色 (asagi-iro, light indigo) was a color often used in Edo-period clothing but isn’t widely recognized today. Similarly, Kyoto’s traditional 紅 (beni, deep crimson) carries cultural significance in textiles and ceremonies, whereas Tokyo speakers might just call it 赤 (aka, red).

Even color associations can shift by region. In some parts of Japan, white is the dominant color for ceremonial dress, while in others, purple is the preferred color for nobility and formality. These subtle differences don’t affect daily conversations much, but they add depth to how colors are used in traditions, design, and even branding across Japan.

How to Describe Different Shades in Japanese

Japanese allows for a lot of flexibility when describing colors, making it easy to express lighter, darker, or mixed shadesof any color.

For softer, pastel tones, you can use 淡い (awai, pale/light) before the color:

• 淡い青 (awai ao) – light blue
• 淡い緑 (awai midori) – soft green

For richer, deeper shades, 濃い (koi, dark/deep) is commonly used:

• 濃い赤 (koi aka) – deep red
• 濃い紫 (koi murasaki) – dark purple

If you want to describe something that leans toward a certain color but isn’t quite there, you can use ～っぽい (-ppoi, “ish”):

• 青っぽい (aoppoi) – bluish
• 茶色っぽい (chairoppoi) – brownish

Some color terms also specify metallic or pastel variations:

• 金色 (kin’iro) – gold
• 銀色 (gin’iro) – silver
• パステルピンク (pasuteru pinku) – pastel pink

Using these expressions helps add precision to your descriptions, making your Japanese sound more natural and expressive when talking about colors!

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