What does 青 mean in Japanese?
青 means “blue, green” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 青 (blue; green), 青い (blue; green), and 青空 (blue sky).
For learners, the key is to study 青 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: セイ (sei), ショウ (shou)
Kun’yomi: あお-い (ao-i)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 青 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | blue, green, youth |
| Stroke Count | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
青 is not limited to one English translation. In 青 (あお), it means blue; green; in 青い (あおい), it points to blue; green; and in 青空 (あおぞら), it is used for blue sky. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 青（あお / ao） — blue; green
- 青い（あおい / aoi） — blue; green
- 青空（あおぞら / aozora） — blue sky
- 青年（せいねん / seinen） — young person
- 青信号（あおしんごう / aoshingō） — green traffic light
- 青森（あおもり / aomori） — Aomori
Example Sentences
-
青い空が広がっています。
あおいそらがひろがっています。 / Aoi sora ga hirogatte imasu.
The blue sky stretches out.
-
青信号で渡りましょう。
あおしんごうでわたりましょう。 / Ao shingō de watarimashō.
Let’s cross at the green light.
-
青年は駅へ走りました。
せいねんはえきへはしりました。 / Seinen wa eki e hashirimashita.
The young man ran to the station.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 青 (あお / ao) because it keeps the core meaning of 青 clear. Then add 青い and 青空 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 青 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
青 means “blue, green” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 青, 青い, and 青空.