藍
indigo
Readings
On'yomi
- ラン
Kun'yomi
- あい
Meaning
藍 centers on the deep blue color of indigo, both the dye and the plant it comes from.
Most common words using 藍
20 of 86- 藍あい
dyer's knotweed (Persicaria tinctoria, used to produce indigo dye)
- 藍子あいご
mottled spinefoot (Siganus fuscescens); dusky rabbitfish; sandy spinefoot
- 藍色あいいろ
indigo blue; indigo
- 藍染めあいぞめ
indigo dye
- 伽藍がらん
temple (esp. large one); monastery
- 藍革あいかわ
indigo-dyed leather
- 藍綬褒章らんじゅほうしょう
Medal with Blue Ribbon
- インド藍インドあい
indigo
- 七堂伽藍しちどうがらん
complete seven-structured temple compound
- 二藍ふたあい
deep purple; reddish indigo
- 人造藍じんぞうあい
synthetic indigo
- 伽藍堂がらんどう
empty; hollow; bare; vacant; deserted
- 伽藍鳥がらんちょう
pelican
- 僧伽藍摩そうがらんま
Buddhist convent or monastery
- 出藍しゅつらん
pupil excelling his master
- 出藍の誉れしゅつらんのほまれ
surpassing one's master
- 堂塔伽藍どうとうがらん
religious buildings (temples, shrines, pagodas, etc.)
- 大伽藍だいがらん
large temple edifice; large temple
- 天然藍てんねんあい
natural indigo
- 天藍石てんらんせき
lazulite
Study
Etymology
藍 combines 艹 (grass/plant) with 監, which likely contributes the sound. It originally referred to the indigo plant used for dyeing.
Meaning mnemonic
The top grass radical 艹 hints at a plant, and the bottom 監 looks like a container for dye. Picture indigo leaves being steeped in a vat to produce the deep blue color.
Reading mnemonic
For ラン, imagine a runner wearing indigo shorts: run -> ラン, and the runner's clothes are dyed with indigo.