虹
rainbow
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
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.