English to Japanese Color Words
If you want to learn the English translations for popular Japanese color words, this is definitely the page for you! Below you will find 53 Japanese color words translated from it's English meaning. Where known, we've also added the related kanji, katakana, or hiragana readings.
First up are the translations for some basic color words like color, colorful, and rainbow, then you'll find the list of basic Japanese color words, followed by the list of descriptive Japanese color words. Finally, toward the bottom of the page, you'll find some sample sentences featuring color words to help you better use the words in everyday Japanese conversation.
Scroll down to read the full list or use the quick links below to skip to the section of your choosing.
Color Words from English to Japanese:
Words in bold added during the last update. You can also view these color names from Japanese to English.
Quick Links:
English to Japanese Color-Related Words
Basic Colors from English to Japanese
Descriptive Colors from English to Japanese
English to Japanese Color Related Sentences
English to Japanese Color-Related Words
These words are all color-related, but not actually colors. Please note that we are working on adding kanji, hiragana, and katakana to the translations, but this is still a work in progress.
Color ➔ Karaa ➔ カラー
Colors ➔ Iro ➔ 色 ➔ いろ
Colorful ➔ Karafuru
Neon ➔ Neon ➔ ネオン
Rainbow ➔ Nijiiro
Basic Colors from English to Japanese
Here are the more basic colors you are likely to run into during a Japanese conversation.
Black ➔ Kuro/Kuroi ➔ 黒 ➔ クロ
Blue ➔ Ao/Aoi ➔ 青
Brown ➔ Chairo
Gold ➔ Kin'iro
Green ➔ Midori
Grey ➔ Haiiro
Ivory ➔ Zougeiro
Orange ➔ Daidaiiro
Orange ➔ Orenji
Peach ➔ Momoiro
Purple ➔ Murasaki
Red ➔ Aka/Akai ➔ 赤 ➔ アカ
Silver ➔ Gin'iro
White ➔ Shiro/Shiroi ➔ 白 ➔ シロ
Yellow ➔ Kiiro
English to Japanese Descriptive Colors
If you are in need of more descriptive Japanese colors, then this is the list for you.
Dark purple ➔ Komurasaki
Dark red ➔ Ankoushoku
Deep blue ➔ Koniro
Deep purple ➔ Kokimurasaki
Egg yellow color ➔ Tamagoiro
Jet black ➔ Murebairo
Lemon yellow ➔ Remoniro ➔ レモン色 ➔ れもんいろ
Light blue ➔ Mizuiro
Light brown ➔ Kitsuneiro
Light green ➔ Asamidori
Light green ➔ Kimidori
Light green ➔ Moegi ➔ 萌黄 ➔ もえぎ (a bright yellow-green color)
Light pink ➔ Taikou
Light red ➔ Senkou
Light yellow ➔ Kuwairo
Midnight blue ➔ Middonaitoburuu ➔ ミッドナイトブルー
Navy blue ➔ Konshou
Pitch black ➔ Makkuro
Prussian blue ➔ Konjouiro
Royal blue ➔ Roiyaruburuu ➔ ロイヤルブルー
Shinbashi color ➔ Shinbashi-iro ➔ 新橋色 ➔ しんばしいろ (bright blue with a slight green tint)
Sky blue ➔ Sorairo
Yellowy brown ➔ Kuchibairo
Color-Related Sentences from English to Japanese
And here are some example color-related sentences or short phrases that include a color word.
Blue sky ➔ Aoi sora
Clear blue sky ➔ Sunda aoi sora
Neon sign ➔ Neonsain ➔ ネオンサイン
Red thread (of fate) ➔ (Unmei no) akai ito
The apple is red. ➔ Ringo wa akai desu.
The fish is red. ➔ Sakana wa akai desu.
The sky is blue. ➔ Sora wa aoi desu.
This is a white shirt. ➔ Kochira wa shiroi shatsu desu.
What color is it? ➔ Nani-iro desu ka?
What is your favorite color? ➔ Sukina iro wa nan desu ka?
This list of English to Japanese color words was last updated on April 30, 2025.
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