Japanese word

紫

Pronunciation

Romajimurasaki

Meaning

  • nounpurple

Example

この花は紫です。ko no hana wa murasaki de su

This flower is purple.

Illustration for 紫 (purple)

More examples

店員は布を紫に染めました。ten in wa nuno o murasaki ni so me ma shi ta

The shop clerk dyed the fabric purple.

Core concept

Names a color range between red and blue, including shades that appear more reddish or more bluish.

Common phrases

  • 紫に染めるmurasaki ni so me ru

    dye purple

  • 紫の絵の具murasaki no e no gu

    purple paint

Definition in Japanese

赤と青の間にある色合いの総称。aka to ao no aida ni a ru iro a i no sō shō

Word origin

紫 (murasaki) is a native Japanese word named after the murasaki plant, whose roots were used to make purple dye; the kanji 紫 has the Sino-Japanese reading shi.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 紫 (murasaki) covers a color range that English often divides into purple and violet, so the exact shade depends on context.

Other meanings

  • violetnoun

Word lists with this word