Meaning
The kanji 青 covers a color spectrum that English-speakers usually split into two: blue and green. In addition to color, it represents youth and lack of experience. The character depicts a young sprout (生) growing over a well of pure water. This imagery links the color to the freshness of nature and clean, deep water.
Ancient Japanese used the word ao for everything from the ocean to lush mountains. While modern Japanese has the word midori for green, many traditional items keep the ao label. For instance, a green traffic light is a 青信号, and green seaweed used on takoyaki is 青のり. Even green apples are called 青リンゴ.
Metaphorically, this kanji implies being 'unripe.' Just as a green fruit is still maturing, a 'blue' person is a youth. You will see this in words like 青年 (young man) and 青春 (adolescence). It consists of 8 strokes and is a foundational character taught in the first grade.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The standard on'yomi is セイ (sei). You will encounter this reading in formal or academic compound words. While ショウ (shou) exists as a secondary reading, it is rare in daily use. Stick to セイ for your N4 studies. This reading often appears in words related to age groups or historical materials.
- 青年 (seinen) — A young man.
- 青春 (seishun) — Youth; the 'springtime' of one's life.
- 青銅 (seidou) — Bronze (literally 'blue-green copper').
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The native readings are あお (ao) and あお.い (ao-i). Use ao as a noun and aoi as an adjective. When describing a person's face, aoi doesn't mean they are literally blue; it means they look pale or sickly.
- 青 (ao) — Blue; green (noun).
- 青い (aoi) — Blue/Green; pale; unripe (adjective).
- 真っ青 (massao) — Deep blue; ghastly pale.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 青 appears in a wide variety of contexts, from weather to health drinks.
Nature and Color
- 青空 (aozora) — Blue sky.
- 青海原 (aounabara) — The vast blue ocean.
- 青葉 (aoba) — Fresh green leaves (popular as a name for places or sushi shops).
- 青色 (aoiro) — The color blue.
Society and Health
- 青少年 (seishounen) — Youth; young people/juveniles.
- 青汁 (aojiru) — Green vegetable juice, usually made from kale or barley grass.
- 青写真 (aojashin) — Blueprint; a plan for the future.
- 青信号 (aoshingou) — Green traffic light.
Example Sentences
今日の空はとても青いです。
Kyou no sora wa totemo aoi desu.
The sky today is very blue.
信号が青に変わったら、道を渡りましょう。
Shingou ga ao ni kawattara, michi wo watarimashou.
Let's cross the street once the light turns green.
彼は怖くて顔が真っ青になった。
Kare wa kowakute kao ga massao ni natta.
His face turned pale with fear.
父は健康のために毎日青汁を飲んでいます。
Chichi wa kenkou no tame ni mainichi aojiru wo nondeimasu.
My father drinks green juice every day for his health.
高校時代は最高の青春でした。
Koukou jidai wa saikou no seishun deshita.
High school was the peak of my youth.
将来の青写真を描くのは大切だ。
Shourai no aojashin wo egaku no wa taisetsu da.
It's important to have a blueprint for your future.
Related Kanji
- 林 — Grove, Forest, Woods (Kanji N4)
- 村 — Village, Hamlet (Kanji N4)
- 田 — Rice Field (Kanji N4)
- 音 — Sound, Noise, Tone (Kanji N4)
- 地 — Ground, Earth, Land (Kanji N4)
- 春 — Spring (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
Think of 青 as a young plant (生) drinking deep, blue water from a well (the bottom part). While the bottom now looks like the moon (月), it originally meant a water source. Imagine a vibrant green seedling growing tall because it has plenty of pure blue water. This mental image links green, blue, and growth together.