Japanese word

紅

Pronunciation

Romajikurenai

Meaning

  • nouncrimson

Example

朝焼けで空が紅に染まります。asa ya ke de sora ga kurenai ni so ma ri ma su

The sky turns crimson at dawn.

Illustration for 紅 (crimson)

More examples

夕日が山々を紅に染めています。yū hi ga yama yama o kurenai ni so me te i ma su

The setting sun is turning the mountains crimson.

Core concept

Marks a vivid, deep red with a slight purple cast, like a rich dye rather than an ordinary bright red.

Common phrases

  • 紅に染まるkurenai ni so ma ru

    turn crimson

  • 紅の空kurenai no sora

    crimson sky

  • 紅を帯びるkurenai o o bi ru

    take on a crimson hue

Similar words

赤aka: The basic color that includes shades from light red to deep red.
深紅shinku: A particularly dark and vivid red used as a named color.
紅色kōshoku: A formal color name for a rich red with a slight purple cast.

Definition in Japanese

鮮やかで濃く、やや紫を帯びた赤色。aza ya ka de ko ku ya ya murasaki o o bi ta aka iro

Word origin

The Japanese color term 紅 (kurenai, "crimson") is linked to 呉藍 (kureai, "safflower dye from Wu"), an older name associated with safflower dye, and later came to be written with 紅.

Usage tips

  • For advanced learners, 紅 (kurenai) is useful as a literary color term because it can sound more traditional than everyday words for red.

Related words

  • 紅みkurenaimicrimson huenoun

Word lists with this word