“Blue” in Japanese is 青い (あおい), pronounced aoi.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Blue, traditionally covering green too: the green traffic light is a 青信号, “blue signal”.
Example sentences
- 空が青いです。そらがあおいです。The sky is blue.
- 青い海を見ました。あおいうみをみました。I saw the blue sea.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 青い. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 青い あおい | blue |
| Polite present | 青いです あおいです | is blue |
| Negative | 青くないです あおくないです | isn’t blue |
| Past | 青かったです あおかったです | was blue |
| Past negative | 青くなかったです あおくなかったです | wasn’t blue |
| て-form | 青くて あおくて | blue and… |
| Adverb (く) | 青く あおく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say blue in Japanese?
Blue in Japanese is 青い (あおい), pronounced “aoi”.
How do you write blue in Japanese?
It's written 青い with kanji, or あおい in hiragana. Both are read aoi.
Is 青い on the JLPT?
Yes. 青い (aoi) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.