Refers to the precious metal gold. Often used in literary or poetic contexts, but also in everyday language.
山から黄金が採れた。
Gold was mined from the mountain.
Specifically a coin made of gold. Can be used historically or in fantasy settings.
古い財布から黄金が一枚出てきた。
One gold coin came out of the old wallet.
Describes the color gold. Often used in compound words or descriptive phrases.
夕日が空を黄金色に染めた。
The sunset dyed the sky a golden color.
The king displayed a golden statue in his palace.
The sea shone golden in the sunset.
The adventurers obtained gold in the old castle.
金色 is the plain, common word for the color gold, while 黄金 as a color term feels more decorative or literary.
ゴールド is a modern loanword used casually for the metal or color gold, while 黄金 sounds more classical or formal.
The same kanji 黄金 is read おうごん in most modern, standard contexts, whereas こがね is the older, poetic reading.
scarab beetle; scarabaeid beetle · Mimela splendens; metallic-green scarab beetle
soybean beetle; Anomala rufocuprea
Japanese beetle; Popillia japonica
golden; gold-colored
Baikal skullcap; Chinese skullcap
millet mochi; millet dough cake
horned dung beetle; Copris ochus
Kogane Sengan sweet potato
Argiope amoena; orb-weaving spider
Standard kanji spelling for the common reading こがね.
Kana spelling; used when avoiding kanji or for clarity.
Alternate kanji spelling; less common than 黄金 for this reading.
The reading こがね is a native Japanese word for gold, predating the introduction of Chinese characters. The kanji 黄金 literally mean 'yellow metal'.
quince monitor; yellow-head monitor
pebbled butterflyfish; multiband butterflyfish