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Kotomora

紺

dark blue, navy

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • コン

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

紺 centers on a deep, dark shade of blue, specifically navy or dark blue, often associated with fabric or dyeing.

Most common words using 紺

  • 紺こん
    N2

    navy blue; deep blue

  • 紺色こんいろ

    deep blue; navy blue

  • 濃紺のうこん

    dark blue

  • 紺碧こんぺき

    deep blue; azure

  • 紺屋こうや

    dyer

  • 紫紺しこん

    dark purple; bluish purple

  • 紫紺野牡丹しこんのぼたん

    princess-flower (Tibouchina urvilleana)

  • 紺ソこんソ

    navy-blue socks

  • 紺ソクこんソク

    navy-blue socks

  • 紺ハイソこんハイソ

    navy-blue knee socks

  • 紺四郎こんしろう

    consul

  • 紺地こんじ

    dark blue ground

  • 紺屋の白袴こうやのしろばかま

    the shoemaker's children go barefoot; specialists often fail to apply their skills to themselves; the dyer's white hakama

  • 紺珠かんじゅ

    dark blue gem allowing one to recall memories when stroked with one's hand (allegedly possessed by Zhang Yue)

  • 紺絣こんがすり

    dark blue cloth with white splash patterns

  • 紺綬褒章こんじゅほうしょう

    Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon

  • 紺青こんじょう

    Prussian blue; deep blue; dark blue; ultramarine

  • 紺青色こんじょういろ

    Prussian blue; deep blue; dark blue; ultramarine

  • 紺青鬼こんじょうき

    navy blue demon residing in hell

  • 茄子紺なすこん

    dusky purple; dark purple; eggplant color

Explore all words using 紺 →

Study

Etymology

紺 combines 糸 (thread) with 甘, which likely contributes the sound コン. The character originally referred to a dark blue dye or fabric.

Meaning mnemonic

Thread 糸 dyed a sweet 甘 deep blue: imagine a spool of thread soaked in rich navy dye, the color so deep it looks almost sweet.

Reading mnemonic

For コン, picture a con artist selling fake navy blue silk: con -> コン, and the thread 糸 is dyed a deceptive dark blue.