蒼
blue, pale
Readings
On'yomi
- ソウ
Kun'yomi
- あお.い
Meaning
蒼 centers on a muted, pale blue, often associated with the color of the sky, distant mountains, or a pallid complexion.
Most common words using 蒼
20 of 25- 蒼天そうてん
blue sky; azure sky
- 蒼穹そうきゅう
blue sky
- 蒼白そうはく
pale; pallid
- 蒼空そうくう
blue sky
- 鬱蒼うっそう
thick; dense; luxuriant
- 蒼生そうせい
the masses; people
- 古色蒼然こしょくそうぜん
antique-looking; looking hoary with patina
- 暮色蒼然ぼしょくそうぜん
dusky; somber light of a gathering dusk
- 穹蒼きゅうそう
dome of the sky; vault of heaven
- 蒼々そうそう
blue (sky, ocean, etc.)
- 蒼古そうこ
old-fashioned and tasteful
- 蒼梧そうご
Chinese parasol-tree (Firmiana simplex); Chinese bottletree; Japanese varnishtree; phoenix-tree
- 蒼氓そうぼう
the people; the public; citizens
- 蒼波そうは
blue wave; blue waves
- 蒼浪そうろう
blue waves; blue wave
- 蒼然そうぜん
blue; bluish; dim
- 蒼白色そうはくしょく
pale
- 蒼竜そうりょう
blue dragon
- 蒼紅そうこう
blue and red; azure and crimson
- 蒼翠そうすい
blue-green
Study
Etymology
蒼 combines 艹 (grass/plants) with 倉, which likely contributes the sound. The association with pale blue may come from the color of certain plants or the sky seen through vegetation.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture a pale blue sky peeking through a canopy of grass 艹 above a storehouse 倉. The grass filters the light, giving it a soft, pale blue hue.
Reading mnemonic
For ソウ, imagine a soul (ソウ) painted in pale blue, floating gently above the grass and storehouse. The soul's color is the pale blue of 蒼.