赤
aka[a̠ka̠]
The Japanese word for red is 赤 (aka).
赤 is used as a noun to refer to the color red itself.
Meaning: colour (noun)
Which one should you use?
The noun 赤 refers to the color, while the adjective form 赤い is used to describe the property of an object. Additionally, the katakana spelling アカ can be used to refer to something left-wing, socialist or communist.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using red as an adjective to describe a noun directly, you must use the form 赤い instead of the noun 赤.
How do you pronounce it?
aka
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 赤 can refer to a baby, as in the term 赤ん坊 for 'infant'. This is because newborns often have reddish skin.
- The word 赤字 literally means 'red letters' and is the standard Japanese term for a financial deficit.
- The phrase 赤裸々 uses the word 赤 to mean 'completely' or 'nakedly' when describing a confession or the truth.
Examples in context
- 顔が赤いよ。Your face is red.This sentence uses 赤 to describe the color of a person's face.Tatoeba #183646 by bunbuku, translation #20768 by CK
- 私の耳、赤い？Are my ears red?This sentence uses 赤 to ask about the color of one's ears.Tatoeba #8705960 by bunbuku, translation #3170753 by CK
- リンゴは赤い。Apples are red.This sentence uses 赤 to state the color of an apple.Tatoeba #10667328 by YT, translation #430055 by witbrock
- 彼女は赤いドレスを着ている (かのじょはあかいドレスをきている)She is wearing a red dress.
- あの車は赤っぽい (あのくるまはあかっぽい)That car is reddish.
- 329 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a painting in a gallery.
- 大翔 Hirotoこの絵の赤は綺麗だね。Kono e no aka wa kirei dane.The red in this painting is beautiful, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari本当だね。とても鮮やかだよ。Honto dane. Totemo azayaka dayo.It really is. It's very vivid.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵は、赤が好き？Himari wa, aka ga suki?Himari, do you like red?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、大翔。大好きな色だよ。Un, Hiroto. Daisuki na iro dayo.Yes, Hiroto. It's my favorite color.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “red” translations and entries 赤, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
