黄色
kiiro[kʲiiɾo̞]
The Japanese word for yellow is 黄色 (kiiro).
The term is used to refer to the color yellow. It can function as a noun to name the color itself or as an adjective to describe objects.
Meaning: having yellow as its color (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji character 黄, which specifically means 'yellow'.
Which one should you use?
The noun form 黄色 is used when stating that something is a certain color using a copula (such as 'the color is yellow'). To modify a noun directly, such as 'a yellow flower', the adjective form 黄色い is used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to use yellow as an adjective to describe a noun directly, you should use the form 黄色い. In contrast, the form 黄色 functions as a noun meaning 'the color yellow'.
How do you pronounce it?
kiiro
Did you know?
- The component 色 in 黄色 is the same word used for 'sex' or 'eroticism' in certain colloquial contexts, though in this phrase it simply means 'color'.
- The kanji 黄 can also be used to refer to the color gold in certain historical or poetic contexts, even though it specifically means 'yellow'.
- While 黄色 means 'yellow', the traditional Japanese color palette often categorizes a bright, golden yellow as 黄金色, meaning 'gold-colored'.
Examples in context
- 花は黄色い。The flowers are yellow.This sentence demonstrates the use of 黄色 to describe the color of flowers.Tatoeba #1614327 by Meow, translation #8820095 by shekitten
- 黄色のもあるよ。There's also a yellow one.This sentence shows how to use 黄色 to indicate a specific yellow object.Tatoeba #9944505 by small_snow, translation #3133503 by CK
- バナナは黄色です。Bananas are yellow.This sentence uses 黄色 to state the color of a banana.Tatoeba #553870 by Namikaze, translation #559000 by djinni74
- あの車は黄色で目立つ。That car is yellow and stands out.
- このレストランのロゴはオレンジと黄色を使っています。This restaurant's logo uses orange and yellow colors.
- 51 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are looking at folders in a store.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮、黄色いファイルはどこにあるかな？Ren, kiiroi fairu wa doko ni aru kana?Ren, I wonder where the yellow folders are?
- 蓮 Renあそこにある黄色い棚を見て。Asoko ni aru kiiroi tana o mite.Look at that yellow shelf over there.
- 美咲 Misakiあった！この黄色いのがいいな。Atta! Kono kiiroi no ga ii na.Found them! I like this yellow one.
- 蓮 Renうん、いい色だと思うよ。Un, ii iro da to omou yo.Yeah, I think it's a nice color.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 黄色, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
