Translation and Meaning of: 黄色 - oushoku

The Japanese word 黄色[おうしょく] is one of those that frequently appears in everyday life, be it on signs, descriptions of objects, or even in dialogues. If you are studying Japanese or just have curiosity about the meaning and usage of this term, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Suki Nihongo, the best online Japanese dictionary, we will explore everything from the basic translation to cultural details that make this word special. You will discover how it is written, its origin, and even tips to memorize it more easily.

Meaning and translation of 黄色

黄色[おうしょく] is the Japanese word for the color "yellow." It consists of the kanji 黄 (yellow) and 色 (color), forming a straightforward and easy-to-understand term. While in Portuguese we use just one word for this color, in Japanese it can appear in different contexts, from simple descriptions to more specific expressions.

It is worth noting that, although 黄色 is the most common way to refer to yellow, there are variations like きいろ (kiiro), which is the hiragana reading of the same term. Both are correct, but おうしょく tends to sound more formal, while きいろ is more colloquial. This subtle difference is important for those who want to sound natural when speaking Japanese.

Origin and writing of the kanji 黄色

The origin of the kanji 黄 dates back to ancient China, where it was used to represent the color yellow, associated with the earth and harvest. The kanji 色, which means "color" or "appearance," appears in various words related to shades. Together, they form 黄色, a term that reflects the importance of colors in Japanese culture.

An interesting fact is that the kanji 黄 is part of other terms related to yellow, such as 黄金 (ougon, "gold") and 黄土 (ōdo, "ochre"). If you are learning Japanese, paying attention to these radicals can help you memorize words more easily. Furthermore, yellow has a symbolic role in Japan, often associated with energy and optimism.

How to use 黄色 in everyday life

In everyday life, 黄色 appears in various situations, from traffic signs to descriptions of clothes and objects. For example, if you want to say "a yellow pencil" in Japanese, you can use the phrase 黄色い鉛筆 (kiiroi enpitsu). The adjective 黄色い (kiiroi) is the most common way to describe something that has this color.

Another frequent use is in expressions like 黄色信号 (kiiro shingō), which means "yellow signal" in traffic. This is an example of how color is present even in important contexts of urban life. If you have already visited Japan, you have probably noticed that yellow is a striking color in various aspects of culture, from decoration to fashion.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 黄色 (Kiiro) - Yellow

黄色

Romaji: oushoku
Kana: おうしょく
Type: Noun, adjective
L: jlpt-n1, jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: yellow

Meaning in English: yellow

Definition: One of the colors. Colors of the sun, eggs, etc.

Example Sentences - (黄色) oushoku

See below some example sentences:

黄色は太陽の色です。

Kiiro wa taiyō no iro desu

Yellow is the color of the sun.

• 黄色 (kiiro) - It means "yellow" in Japanese.
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 太陽 (taiyou) - means "sun" in Japanese
• の (no) - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 色 (iro) - means "color" in Japanese
• です (desu) - verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate a statement or description

私の尿は黄色です。

Watashi no nyō wa kiiro desu

My urine is yellow.

• 私 - personal pronoun meaning "I" in Japanese.
• の - the Japanese particle for possession, which indicates that "私" is the owner of something.
• 尿 - a word that means "urine" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle in Japanese, which indicates that "尿" is the subject of the sentence.
• 黄色 - a word that means "yellow" in Japanese.
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, which indicates that "黄色" is the description of the "尿" of "私".