紫: the kanji for purple
紫 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means purple. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
紫 is written in 12 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
紫 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
シ (shi)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 紫外線しがいせん · shigaisen | ultraviolet rays |
| 紫煙しえん · shien | tobacco smoke |
むらさき (murasaki)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 紫むらさき · murasaki | purple |
| 紫色むらさきいろ · murasakiiro | purple color |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 夏は紫外線が強い。Natsu wa shigaisen ga tsuyoi.Ultraviolet rays are strong in summer.
- 紫のあじさいが咲いている。Murasaki no ajisai ga saite iru.Purple hydrangeas are blooming.
- 空が夕方に紫色に染まった。Sora ga yūgata ni murasakiiro ni somatta.The sky turned purple in the evening.
- 紫外線から肌を守ろう。Shigaisen kara hada o mamorō.Let's protect our skin from UV rays.
- 『源氏物語』は紫式部が書いた。"Genji Monogatari" wa Murasaki Shikibu ga kaita.The Tale of Genji was written by Murasaki Shikibu.
Questions about 紫
How many strokes does 紫 have?
紫 is written in 12 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 紫?
The on readings are shi (シ). The kun readings are murasaki (むらさき).
What JLPT level is 紫?
N1. 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 N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 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 紫
- 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.