Yellow meanings in Japanese

黄色 (きいろ, kiiro)

Example:

The sun is yellow.

太陽は黄色です。

She wore a yellow dress.

彼女は黄色のドレスを着ていました。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used to describe color in general contexts, such as art, fashion, and nature.

Note: 黄色 is the most common term for the color yellow in Japanese.

黄 (き, ki)

Example:

The leaves turned yellow in autumn.

秋に葉が黄色になりました。

The yellow light was on.

黄色の信号が点灯していました。

Usage: formalContext: More technical or literary contexts, often used in science, botany, or art.

Note: 黄 is often used in more specific contexts, such as referring to yellow pigments or in a more abstract sense.

黄色い (きいろい, kiiroi)

Example:

The lemons are yellow.

レモンは黄色いです。

The school bus is yellow.

スクールバスは黄色いです。

Usage: informalContext: Used as an adjective to describe objects that are yellow.

Note: 黄色い is an adjective form and is commonly used in everyday conversation.

黄ばんだ (きばんだ, kiban da)

Example:

The paper has turned yellow over time.

その紙は時間が経つにつれて黄ばんでしまった。

He has yellowed teeth from smoking.

彼は喫煙のせいで歯が黄ばんでいます。

Usage: informalContext: Used to describe something that has become yellow due to aging or damage.

Note: 黄ばんだ implies a change from another color to yellow, often used in a negative context.

黄色信号 (きいろしんごう, kiiro shingou)

Example:

The traffic light turned yellow.

信号が黄色に変わりました。

You should slow down when you see a yellow light.

黄色の信号を見たら減速するべきです。

Usage: formalContext: Specific to traffic signals.

Note: This term combines the word for yellow (黄色) with the word for signal (信号), typically used in discussions about traffic rules.

golden

Golden refers to a bright, metallic yellow color resembling that of gold.

Example: She wore a beautiful golden dress to the party.

Note: Golden specifically refers to a shiny, metallic yellow color often associated with richness or luxury.

amber

Amber describes a warm, honey-colored shade of yellow with a hint of orange or brown.

Example: The sunset painted the sky in shades of amber and pink.

Note: Amber typically has a darker and more earthy tone compared to a bright, primary yellow.

saffron

Saffron is a vivid yellow-orange color, often associated with the spice of the same name.

Example: The saffron robes of the monks stood out against the green landscape.

Note: Saffron is a more specific shade of yellow, leaning towards orange, and is commonly used in cultural or culinary contexts.

blonde

Blonde can refer to a light yellow color, especially when describing hair or certain objects.

Example: Her hair was a beautiful shade of blonde, shining in the sunlight.

Note: Blonde is predominantly used to describe a light yellow color in relation to hair or as a descriptor for a light, pale yellow shade.

Yellow-bellied

Refers to someone who is cowardly or lacking courage.

Example: He was too yellow-bellied to confront the bully.

Note: The phrase uses 'yellow' to describe a characteristic (cowardice), rather than the color itself.

Yellow journalism

Refers to journalism that presents little or no legitimate news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more newspapers.

Example: The article was full of sensationalism, typical of yellow journalism.

Note: The phrase uses 'yellow' to describe sensationalism in journalism, not the color.

Yellow card

A warning card shown in sports, especially in soccer, to caution a player for a foul.

Example: The referee issued a yellow card to the player for a reckless tackle.

Note: The phrase uses 'yellow' to indicate a cautionary measure in sports, distinct from the color itself.

Yellow fever

A viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, also used metaphorically to describe an intense enthusiasm or attraction.

Example: Many travelers are vaccinated against yellow fever before visiting certain regions.

Note: The phrase uses 'yellow' to refer to a disease or intense attraction, not the color yellow.

Mellow yellow

Refers to something relaxed, easygoing, or laid-back.

Example: After a stressful day, I like to relax with some mellow yellow music.

Note: The phrase uses 'mellow yellow' as a descriptor for a relaxed state, not the color itself.

Yellow tape

Yellow tape refers to caution tape that is typically used by authorities to cordon off a crime scene or hazardous area.

Example: The police put up yellow tape around the crime scene.

Note: The term 'yellow tape' specifically refers to the color of the caution tape, distinguishing it from other types of tape used for different purposes.

Yellow cab

Yellow cab is a term commonly used to refer to a taxi, particularly in places where yellow taxis are prevalent like in New York City.

Example: I hailed a yellow cab to take me to the airport.

Note: The term 'yellow cab' is a specific reference to taxis that are painted in yellow as a distinguishing feature, setting them apart from other types of transportation.

Yellow belly

Yellow belly is a slang term used to describe someone who is cowardly or lacking courage.

Example: Don't be such a yellow belly, stand up for yourself!

Note: While 'yellow' on its own could refer to the color, 'yellow belly' is a derogatory term that implies weakness or fearfulness in a person.

Yellow light

Yellow light is used to refer to the traffic signal that indicates caution or a warning of an impending stop.

Example: He sped up as soon as the yellow light came on.

Note: The term 'yellow light' specifically pertains to the cautionary signal in traffic lights and is distinct from the color yellow itself.

Yellow-bone

Yellow-bone is a term, particularly in African-American slang, used to describe a person with a light skin complexion.

Example: She's proud of her complexion and embraces being a yellow-bone.

Note: The term 'yellow-bone' is a culturally specific slang term used within certain communities to describe individuals with specific skin tones, differentiating it from the general term 'yellow'.

The sunflower is yellow.

The walls of the room are painted in a yellowish-green color.

The leaves of the tree turned yellow in the autumn.

Yellow - Adjective (Adjective) / Adjective (Adjective)

Lemma: yellow

Conjugations

Adjective, comparative (Adjective, comparative): yellower

Adjective, superlative (Adjective, superlative): yellowest

Adjective (Adjective): yellow

Noun, plural (Noun, plural): yellows, yellow

Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): yellow

Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): yellowed

Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): yellowing

Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): yellows

Verb, base form (Verb, base form): yellow

Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): yellow

Syllables, Separation and Stress

yellow Contains 2 syllables: yel • low

Phonetic transcription: ˈye-(ˌ)lō

yel low , ˈye (ˌ)lō (The red syllable is stressed)

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

yellow: ~ 2100 (Very common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Yellow