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Kotomora

虹

rainbow

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • コウ

Kun'yomi

  • にじ

Meaning

虹 centers on the rainbow: the arc of colors that appears in the sky after rain.

Most common words using 虹

20 of 21
  • 虹にじ
    N3

    rainbow

  • 虹彩こうさい

    iris

  • 虹鱒にじます

    rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

  • 主虹しゅにじ

    primary rainbow

  • 副虹ふくにじ

    secondary rainbow

  • 反射虹はんしゃこう

    reflection rainbow

  • 夕虹ゆうにじ

    evening rainbow

  • 月虹げっこう

    moonbow; lunar rainbow; whitish rainbow cast by moonlight; lunar bow; space rainbow

  • 朝虹あさにじ

    morning rainbow

  • 白虹はっこう

    white rainbow

  • 虹の橋を渡るにじのはしをわたる

    to die (of a pet); to cross the rainbow bridge

  • 虹彩毛様体炎こうさいもうようたいえん

    iridocyclitis

  • 虹彩炎こうさいえん

    iritis

  • 虹彩異色症こうさいいしょくしょう

    heterochromia iridis; eyes differing in colour (color)

  • 虹彩認証こうさいにんしょう

    iris recognition; iris identification

  • 虹技こうぎ

    Kogi Corporation

  • 虹梁こうりょう

    arched beam used in shrine and temple construction

  • 虹色にじいろ

    rainbow-colored; rainbow-coloured

  • 虹霓こうげい

    rainbow

  • 過剰虹かじょうにじ

    supernumerary rainbow

Explore all words using 虹 →

Study

Etymology

虹 combines 虫 (insect/serpent) and 工 (which likely contributes the sound コウ). In ancient Chinese thought, a rainbow was seen as a serpent-like creature, hence the 虫 component.

Meaning mnemonic

A rainbow is like a giant colorful insect (虫) arching across the sky, with its shape reinforced by the straight 工 lines.

Reading mnemonic

For コウ, imagine a rainbow forming a perfect arc over a calm koi pond: koi -> コウ, and the rainbow's colors reflect on the water.