あお
Alternative writings: ,
JLPT:N5
Frequency:
1

The color blue; azure.

NounNoun Taking 'の'

Examples

青い空が広がっている。

A blue sky stretches out.

彼は青いシャツを着ている。

He is wearing a blue shirt.

窓の外の海はとても青かった。

The sea outside the window was very blue.

青い目の人は珍しい地域もある。

In some regions, people with blue eyes are rare.

2

Green — a greenish or unripe color. In compounds and contexts like plants, fruits, and traffic lights it can mean 'green'.

NounNoun Taking 'の'

Examples

青リンゴはまだ酸っぱくて硬い。

The green apple is still sour and hard.

青ネギを小口切りにしてラーメンにのせた。

I sliced the green onion and put it on the ramen.

青野菜は栄養が豊富だ。

Green vegetables are nutritious.

3

The green light in traffic signals (the 'go' signal).

NounAbbreviation

Examples

信号が青になったので横断歩道を渡った。

The signal turned green, so I crossed the crosswalk.

青信号で車が次々と進んだ。

Cars went through one after another at the green light.

4

A horse coat color called 'blue' — a dark, blackish coat color (specialized term).

Noun

Examples

その競走馬は青毛で、とても力強く走った。

That racehorse had a blue (dark) coat and ran very powerfully.

5

In hanafuda (Japanese playing cards), the blue 5-point card (specialized term).

NounHanafudaAbbreviation

Examples

花札で青の5点札を引いたら、点数が高い。

If you draw the blue 5-point card in hanafuda, it scores high.

6

As a prefix, it can mean immature, unripe, or young (e.g., 青二才, 青少年).

Prefix

Examples

若い頃は青二才で失敗も多かった。

When I was young and inexperienced, I made many mistakes.

青少年の健全育成が課題になっている。

The healthy development of youth is becoming a key issue.