How to Say "White" in Japanese

白

shiro[ɕiɾo̞]

In Japanese, the word for the color white is 白 (shiro). Wiktionary also lists 白色 (hakushoku).

Meaning: color (noun)

Ways to say it

“white” in Japanese
Japanese	Romanization (Wiktionary)	IPA
白	shiro	[ɕiɾo̞] (narrow) [ha̠kɯ̟] (narrow)
白色	hakushoku	[ha̠kɯ̟ɕo̞kɯ̟] (narrow)

The term refers to the color white. You can use it as a noun to refer to the color itself, whereas 白い is the adjective used to describe objects.

白 (shiro) is the common noun used to refer to the color white. In contrast, 白色 (hakushoku) is a more formal or technical way to refer to the color.

When used as an adjective to describe a noun directly, the form 白い is used.

shiro

The phrase 白々しい uses the word for 'white' to describe something that is blatant, transparent, or suspiciously obvious.
While 'white' in English is often associated with weddings, in traditional Japanese culture, certain white garments were historically associated with death and funerals, symbolizing a transition to the next world.
In Japanese calligraphy and art, the 'white' space is often as important as the ink itself, a concept known as 'yohaku', where the absence of color creates the meaning.

白いですか。
Is it white?
This sentence is useful for asking if something is the color 白.
Tatoeba #121438 by small_snow, translation #282567 by CK
真っ白です。
It's perfectly white.
This sentence shows how to describe something as being purely or completely 白.
Tatoeba #145002 by bunbuku, translation #593233 by CK
紺屋の白袴。
The dyer wears white.
This sentence provides a traditional Japanese proverb involving the word 白.
Tatoeba #170962 by KK_kaku_, translation #2776375 by JimBreen
244 more sentences on Tatoeba

A young couple is looking at a new sofa in a furniture store.

陽太 Yota

このソファは白がいいですか？
Kono sofa wa shiro ga ii desu ka?
Would you like this sofa to be white?
結衣 Yui

はい、白が好きです。
Hai, shiro ga suki desu.
Yes, I like white.
陽太 Yota

結衣さん、この白は綺麗ですね。
Yui-san, kono shiro wa kirei desu ne.
Yui, this white is beautiful, isn't it?
結衣 Yui

本当ですね。陽太さんも気に入りましたか？
Hontou desu ne. Youta-san mo kiniirimashita ka?
It really is. Do you like it too, Youta?

Sources

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