Readings: ショク, シキ (Onyomi), いろ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: color, complexion, sensual pleasure
Pictograph of a kneeling person (or a person standing upright) with a mark indicating a “change” or “luster” in their facial complexion, which then generalized to “color.” It also carried connotations of sensual beauty.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 色 has 6 strokes. The general stroke order is: start with the top left vertical stroke, then the horizontal stroke across the top, followed by the left component, and finally the bottom right component with its horizontal, vertical, and final closing horizontal stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 色 (いろ) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ショク (shoku)
- シキ (shiki)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- いろ (iro)
Common Words Using 色
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 景色 | けしき | scenery, view |
| 特色 | とくしょく | characteristic, feature |
| 原色 | げんしょく | primary colors |
| 暖色 | だんしょく | warm color |
| 寒色 | かんしょく | cool color |
| 無色 | むしょく | colorless |
| 出色 | しゅっしょく | excellent, outstanding |
| 変色 | へんしょく | discoloration, fading |
| 着色 | ちゃくしょく | coloring, tinting |
| 配色 | はいしょく | color scheme, color arrangement |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 色 | いろ | color |
| 色々な | いろいろな | various, diverse |
| 色鉛筆 | いろえんぴつ | colored pencil |
| 水色 | みずいろ | light blue |
| 肌色 | はだいろ | skin color |
| 金色 | きんいろ | gold color |
| 銀色 | ぎんいろ | silver color |
| 茶色 | ちゃいろ | brown |
| 色合い | いろあい | shade, tint, color tone |
| 色っぽい | いろっぽい | sensual, seductive |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この花は色がとても綺麗です。
Kana: このはなはいろがとてもきれいです。
Romaji: Kono hana wa iro ga totemo kirei desu.
English: The color of this flower is very beautiful.
Japanese: 彼は色々なスポーツが好きです。
Kana: かれはいろいろなスポーツがすきです。
Romaji: Kare wa iroiro na supōtsu ga suki desu.
English: He likes various sports.
Japanese: 空の色が変わった。
Kana: そらのいろがかわった。
Romaji: Sora no iro ga kawatta.
English: The color of the sky changed.
Japanese: あなたの好きな色は何ですか？
Kana: あなたのすきないろはなんですか？
Romaji: Anata no suki na iro wa nan desu ka?
English: What is your favorite color?
Japanese: 色鉛筆で絵を描きます。
Kana: いろえんぴつでえをかきます。
Romaji: Iroenpitsu de e o kakimasu.
English: I draw pictures with colored pencils.
Japanese: この服は色が鮮やかだ。
Kana: このふくはいろがあざやかだ。
Romaji: Kono fuku wa iro ga azayaka da.
English: The color of these clothes is vibrant.
Japanese: 彼の顔色が悪いです。
Kana: かれのかおいろがわるいです。
Romaji: Kare no kaoiro ga warui desu.
English: His complexion is bad.
Japanese: 夕焼けの景色が美しい。
Kana: ゆうやけのけしきがうつくしい。
Romaji: Yūyake no keshiki ga utsukushii.
English: The sunset scenery is beautiful.
Japanese: このパンは少し色が白いですね。
Kana: このパンはすこしいろがしろいですね。
Romaji: Kono pan wa sukoshi iro ga shiroi desu ne.
English: This bread is a bit white in color.
Japanese: 色々な種類の犬がいます。
Kana: いろいろなしゅるいのいぬがいます。
Romaji: Iroiro na shurui no inu ga imasu.
English: There are various kinds of dogs.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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