Learn Japanese Colors: Names, Meanings, and Cultural Significance for Beginners (Lesson 22)
日本語の色の名前、その意味、そして文化的意義を学びましょう。語彙力を高め、日本語と日本文化における色の使い方を理解しましょう。色の単語や形容詞、よく使う表現。日本語で色について話す方法を学びましょう。
✨ Why Learn Japanese Colors and Superlatives?
Colors play a significant role in Japanese language and culture. In this lesson, you’ll learn the names of various colors in Japanese, their meanings, and how they’re used in everyday conversation.
Being able to talk about colors helps you describe things vividly and naturally in Japanese. This lesson teaches you how to express preferences using colors and superlative forms like 「いちばん」 (“the most”). Great for building more expressive sentences in everyday conversation!
👉 Using Colors in Sentences
🔹This flowers is red.
この花は赤いです。
このはなは あかいです。
🔹The sky is blue.
空は青いです。
そらは あおいです。
- There are colors that have adjectives, such as “red” and “blue,” and colors that do not have adjectives.
- Colors that have adjectives, such as “あかい” and “あおい,” can be expressed as “あかいはな” and “あおいそら.”
- Colors without adjectives, such as “みずいろ” ,” is expressed as “みずいろのはな.”
🗝️ Japanese Sentences Pattern “いちばんすきです”
🔹I like red the most.
私は赤が一番好きです。
わたしは あかが いちばん すきです。
🔹What color do you like best?
何色が一番好きですか。
なにいろが いちばん すきですか。
🔹I like them all.
どれも好きです。
どれも すきです。
📂Japanese Color Vocabulary – Essential Words
Extended Color Names and Their Meanings
- Red: 赤 (あか)
- Blue: 青 (あお)
- Yellow: 黄色 (きいろ)
- Green: 緑 (みどり)
- White: 白 (しろ)
- Black: 黒 (くろ)
Extended Color Names and Their Meanings
- Brown: 茶色 (ちゃいろ)
- Pink: 桃色／ピンク (ももいろ／ぴんく)
- Orange: 橙色／オレンジ(だいだいいろ／おれんじ)
- Light Blue: 水色(みずいろ)
- Purple: 紫 (むらさき)
- Gray: 灰色 (はいいろ)
- Silver: 銀色 (ぎんいろ)
i-Adjective: い形容詞（いけいようし）
- Red: 赤い (あかい)
- Blue: 青い (あおい)
- Yellow: 黄色い (きいろい)
- White: 白い (しろい)
- Black: 黒い (くろい)
- Brown: 茶色い (ちゃいろい)
- Bright: 明るい (あかるい)
- Dark: 暗い (くらい)
- Strong (color): 濃い (こい)
- Light (color): 薄い (うすい)
✨ Cultural Significance of Colors in Japan
- Red is associated with joy and happiness, often used in festivals.
- White symbolizes purity and cleanliness, commonly seen in ceremonies.
- Black can represent formality and elegance, but also mourning.
📝 Practice Questions
- 何色が一番好きですか。
なにいろが いちばん すきですか。
What color do you like best? - この中でどれが一番好きですか。
このなかでどれがいちばんすきですか。
Which one do you like best among these? - 赤い果物はどれですか。
あかいくだものはどれですか。
Which fruits are red? - 明るい色と暗い色、どちらが好きですか。
あかるいいろとくらいいろ、どちらがすきですか。
Do you prefer bright colors or dark colors?
❓ Summary Questions
- 何色が一番好きですか。
なにいろがいちばんすきですか。
What color do you like best? - 暗い色と明るい色、どちらのほうが好きですか。
くらいいろとあかるいいろ、どちらのほうがすきですか。
Which do you like more: dark or bright colors? - 赤い果物を三つ言えますか。
あかいくだものをみっついえますか。
Can you name three red fruits? - この中で、どの果物がいちばん好きですか。
このなかで、どのくだものがいちばんすきですか。
Among these, which fruit do you like the most?
✅ Practice color names with actual objects or images. Use flashcards or apps!
✅ Combine colors with items (like 赤いりんご) to reinforce both vocab and grammar.
✅ Make comparisons and use superlatives with real-life choices: clothes, foods, nature, etc.
✅ Challenge yourself to describe your favorite outfit using color-based adjectives!
✨ Want to learn more vocabulary like this?
👉 Check our full beginner’s course on Smart Japanese Learning !
Boost Your Japanese Fluency with Personalized Lessons!
My name is Ellie<Eri えり>, and I’m a Japanese tutor on italki. If you’re looking to practice speaking Japanese and improve your fluency, I’d love to help! Feel free to schedule a lesson with me, and let’s start speaking Japanese together. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced, I’ll tailor the lesson to your needs. Looking forward to our conversation!
