ChiramiN4 kanji · 6 strokes
色 means color
色
色Memory trick
A person wrapped in a colorful scarf, curled around them (巴): color.
Memory trick: a picture to help you remember the kanji, not its history.
Meaning and readings
- Meaning
- color
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 6
- School grade
- Grade 2 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) いろ iro
いろ (iro) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
From Chinese (onyomi) ショク shoku
ショク (shoku) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Other readings from Chinese: シキ shiki
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
黄色い きいろい · kiiroi
yellow
Built from
- 勹 wrap
- 巴 coiled snake
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
Quick check
What does 色 mean?
Right: 色 means color.Not quite: 色 means color.In 黄色い, which reading does 色 use?
Right. 黄色い is read きいろい (kiiroi): 色 takes いろ, its Japanese reading.Not quite. 黄色い is read きいろい (kiiroi): 色 takes いろ, its Japanese reading.