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Kotomora

色

color

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショク
  • シキ

Kun'yomi

  • いろ

Nanori

  • しか
  • しこ

Meaning

色 centers on the visual quality of color, the way light reflects to produce hues. It can also extend to expressions or appearances that carry a certain tone or feeling.

Most common words using 色

24 of 842
  • 色いろ
    N5

    colour; color; hue; tint; tinge; shade

  • 色々いろいろ
    N5

    various; a variety of; all sorts of; many (different)

  • 色んないろんな

    various; a variety of; all sorts of; many (different)

  • 黄色きいろ
    N5

    yellow; amber

  • 景色けしき
    N4

    scenery; scene; landscape

  • 緑色みどりいろ
    N4

    green; green color

  • 黄色いきいろい
    N5

    yellow

  • 茶色ちゃいろ
    N5

    brown; light brown; tawny

  • 一色いっしょく

    one color

  • 灰色はいいろ
    N3

    grey; gray; ashen

  • 色彩しきさい
    N2

    colour; color; hue; tints

  • 赤色あかいろ

    red; red color

  • 白色しろいろ

    white

  • 色気いろけ
    N1

    colouring; coloring; shade of colour (color)

  • 青色あおいろ

    blue

  • 水色みずいろ
    N1

    light blue; pale blue; aqua

  • 金色きんいろ
    N1

    gold (colour, color)

  • 特色とくしょく
    N3

    characteristic; (distinctive) feature; peculiarity; distinguishing quality; special character

  • 色合いいろあい

    colouring; coloring; shade (of colour); hue; tone; tinge; tint

  • 染色せんしょく
    N1

    dyeing

  • 音色ねいろ
    N1

    tone color; tone colour; tone quality; timbre

  • 顔色かおいろ
    N3

    complexion; one's colour; one's color

  • 着色ちゃくしょく
    N1

    colouring; coloring; colorant

  • 紫色むらさきいろ

    purple; violet

Explore all words using 色 →

Study

Etymology

色 originally depicted a person bending over another, associated with complexion or facial color. The modern form is simplified, but the connection to color and appearance remains.

Meaning mnemonic

The top part looks like a bent figure (勹) over a curled shape (巴), like someone bending to examine a colorful object. Think of 色 as the color you see when you look closely.

Reading mnemonic

For ショク, imagine a shock of bright color suddenly appearing: shock -> ショク, and the vivid color grabs your attention.