青: the kanji for blue, green, young
青 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means blue, green, young. Below are its readings, 10 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
青 is written in 8 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
青 has 4 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 9 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
セイ (sei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 青年せいねん · seinen | young person |
| 青春せいしゅん · seishun | youth |
| 青少年せいしょうねん · seishōnen | youth; young people |
| 青天せいてん · seiten | blue sky |
あお (ao)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 青あお · ao | blue; green |
| 青空あおぞら · aozora | blue sky |
| 青信号あおしんごう · aoshingō | green light |
| 青森あおもり · Aomori | Aomori |
あおい (aoi)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 青いあおい · aoi | blue |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 青, 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 |
|---|---|
| 真っ青まっさお · massao | deep blue; pale |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 青信号になったら渡りましょう。Aoshingō ni nattara watarimashō.Let's cross when the light turns green.
- 今日は青空がきれいです。Kyō wa aozora ga kirei desu.The blue sky is beautiful today.
- 青いネクタイをしている人が部長です。Aoi nekutai o shite iru hito ga buchō desu.The person wearing a blue tie is the department manager.
- ミスに気づいて顔が真っ青になりました。Misu ni kizuite kao ga massao ni narimashita.When I noticed the mistake, my face went pale.
- 学生時代は私の青春でした。Gakusei jidai wa watashi no seishun deshita.My student days were the best years of my youth.
- 来月、青森に出張します。Raigetsu, Aomori ni shutchō shimasu.I'm going to Aomori on business next month.
Questions about 青
How many strokes does 青 have?
青 is written in 8 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 青?
The on readings are sei (セイ), shou (ショウ). The kun readings are ao (あお), aoi (あおい).
Why is a green traffic light called 青 in Japanese?
In older Japanese, 青 (ao) covered both blue and green. The word stayed for traffic lights, so a green light is 青信号 (aoshingō). Green vegetables are also called 青野菜 (ao yasai).
What JLPT level is 青?
N4. 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 N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Colors and descriptions
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 青
- 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.