黄: the kanji for yellow
黄 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means yellow. Below are its readings, 8 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
黄 is written in 11 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
黄 has 4 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 7 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
コウ (kou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 黄砂こうさ · kōsa | yellow sand (from the continent) |
| 黄葉こうよう · kōyō | yellow autumn leaves |
オウ (ou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 黄金おうごん · ōgon | gold |
| 卵黄らんおう · ran'ō | egg yolk |
き (ki)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 黄色きいろ · kiiro | yellow |
| 黄色いきいろい · kiiroi | yellow |
こ (ko)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 黄金色こがねいろ · koganeiro | golden color |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 黄, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 硫黄いおう · iō | sulfur |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 黄色い花が咲いている。Kiiroi hana ga saite iru.Yellow flowers are blooming.
- 春は黄砂が飛んでくることがある。Haru wa kōsa ga tonde kuru koto ga aru.In spring, yellow sand sometimes blows over.
- 秋の田んぼは黄金色に輝いている。Aki no tanbo wa koganeiro ni kagayaite iru.The rice fields shine golden in autumn.
- 黄金の仏像が寺に置かれている。Ōgon no butsuzō ga tera ni okarete iru.A golden Buddhist statue is placed in the temple.
- 温泉に硫黄のにおいがする。Onsen ni iō no nioi ga suru.The hot spring smells of sulfur.
Questions about 黄
How many strokes does 黄 have?
黄 is written in 11 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 黄?
The on readings are kou (コウ), ou (オウ). The kun readings are ki (き), ko (こ).
What JLPT level is 黄?
N2. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
Science, materials and colors
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 黄
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.