青信号
aoshingō[a̠o̞ɕĩŋɡo̞ː]
The English phrase "green light" is translated into Japanese as 青信号 (aoshingō).
Meaning: permission (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 青 literally means blue, but is used to mean green in the context of traffic lights.
Which one should you use?
While 青信号 is the green light, 赤信号 is the red light.
How do you pronounce it?
aoshingō
Did you know?
- The kanji for 青 also appears in the word for youth, 青年 (seinen), linking the color of the 'green light' to the concept of being young.
- If you describe a green apple or a green leaf using the word 青, you are actually using a linguistic relic that treats the color as a shade of blue. While 'midori' is the modern word for green, 'ao' remains the standard for many natural phenomena.
- The concept of a 'green light' as a metaphor for 'permission' is often expressed in Japanese using different imagery, rather than translating the English idiom literally.
Examples in context
- 青信号は「進め」って意味よ。A green light means go.This sentence is useful for explaining the meaning of 青信号.Tatoeba #10796393 by small_snow, translation #7962406 by shekitten
- 緑の信号で、 進んでください。Please proceed with the green light.
- 矢印が点灯している時は、緑色のライトが点いている時です。When the arrow is lit, it's the time when the green light is on.
- 青信号になったら、進んでいいよ。When it turns green, you can proceed.
- 青信号になったら進んでね。Ao-shingou ni nattara susunde ne.Go when the light turns green.
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are talking about a new project proposal.
- 結衣 Yui陽太、提案書の件はどうなった？Youta, teiansho no ken wa dou natta?Yota, what happened with the proposal?
- 陽太 Yotaやっと部長から青信号が出たよ。Yatto buchou kara aoshingou ga deta yo.I finally got the green light from the director.
- 結衣 Yui本当？よかったね！Hontou? Yokatta ne!Really? That's great!
- 陽太 Yota明日からすぐに準備を始めるよ。Ashita kara sugu ni junbi o hajimeru yo.I'll start the preparations right away tomorrow.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 青信号, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
