Japanese Color Names
If you need to learn your Japanese colors, then this is the page for you! Here you'll find 53 Japanese color translations to help you describe the colors of whatever it is you happen to be talking about. We've also started adding some kanji, hiragana, and katakana to these lists for a more well-rounded understanding of all the Japanese writing systems.
Anyway, this page includes a list of basic Japanese color words, plus lists for standard and expressive Japanese color names. You'll also find some color related sample sentences to help you see the words in action - all translated from Japanese to English. Scroll down to view our full list or use our quick links below to skip to any section.
Just as a side note, did you know Japan's National Colors are Red and White? These two colors make up the Japanese Flag (often referred to as the Hinomaru, meaning ball of the sun) which features a red circle on a white background. That said, on to the color names. Enjoy~
Color Names in Japanese:
Words in Bold added during our last update. You can also view these lists of color words from English to Japanese.
Quick Links:
Color-Related Words in Japanese
Japanese Colors List A-Z
Expressive Colors in Japanese
Japanese Color Related Sentences
Color-Related Words in Japanese
Iro ➔ 色 ➔ いろ ➔ Colors
Karaa ➔ カラー ➔ Color
Karafuru ➔ Colorful
Nijiiro ➔ Rainbow
Japanese Colors List A-Z
Ao/Aoi ➔ 青 ➔ Blue
Aka/Akai ➔ 赤 ➔ アカ ➔ Red
Chairo ➔ Brown
Daidaiiro ➔ Orange
Gin'iro ➔ Silver
Haiiro ➔ Grey
Kiiro ➔ Yellow
Kin'iro ➔ Gold
Kuro/Kuroi ➔ 黒 ➔ クロ ➔ Black
Midori ➔ Green
Momoiro ➔ Peach
Murasaki ➔ Purple
Orenji ➔ Orange
Pinku ➔ Pink
Shiro/Shiroi ➔ 白 ➔ シロ ➔ White
Zougeiro ➔ Ivory
Expressive Colors in Japanese
Ankoushoku ➔ Dark red
Asamidori ➔ Light green
Kimidori ➔ Light green
Kitsuneiro ➔ Light brown
Kokimurasaki ➔ Deep purple
Komurasaki ➔ Dark purple
Koniro ➔ Deep blue
Konjouiro ➔ Prussian blue
Konshou ➔ Navy blue
Kuchibairo ➔ Yellowy brown
Kuwairo ➔ Light yellow
Makkuro ➔ Pitch black
Middonaitoburuu ➔ ミッドナイトブルー ➔ Midnight blue
Mizuiro ➔ Light Blue
Moegi ➔ 萌黄 ➔ もえぎ ➔ Light green (a bright yellow-green color)
Murebairo ➔ Jet black
Remoniro ➔ レモン色 ➔ れもんいろ ➔ Lemon yellow
Roiyaruburuu ➔ ロイヤルブルー ➔ Royal blue
Senkou ➔ Light red
Shinbashi-iro ➔ 新橋色 ➔ しんばしいろ ➔ Shinbashi color (bright blue with a slight green tint)
Sorairo ➔ Sky blue
Taikou ➔ Light pink
Tamagoiro ➔ Egg yellow color
Japanese Color Related Sentences
Aoi sora ➔ Blue sky
Kochira wa shiroi shatsu desu. ➔ This is a white shirt.
Nani-iro desu ka? ➔ What color is it?
Neonsain ➔ ネオンサイン ➔ Neon sign
Ringo wa akai desu. ➔ The apple is red.
Sakana wa akai desu. ➔ The fish is red.
Sora wa aoi desu. ➔ The sky is blue.
Sukina iro wa nan desu ka? ➔ What is your favorite color?
Sunda aoi sora ➔ Clear blue sky
(Unmei no) akai ito ➔ Red thread (of fate)
This Japanese colors list was last updated on April 29, 2025.
Next Up
Zodiac Signs in Japanese: Learn how to say astrological signs in Japanese.
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Burmese, Filipino, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Romanian, Spanish, and Urdu.
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