Red in Japanese
"red" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
赤
aka
5 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "red". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
赤 is red. 朱 is vermilion, the orange-red of shrine gates and seal ink. 紅 is crimson, the red of safflower dye and of rouge. 丹 is cinnabar red, the oldest of them, and it appears in names. 茜 is madder red, the colour of a sunset sky.
Top pick
red
Reading: seki
7 strokes
Where it comes from
Composed of big and fire. Color of big fire.
What it carries
Red, deficit, baby. Represents passion and life.
Related kanji for "red"
red
shu · dark
Shape of red heartwood in tree cross-section. Red.
red
kou
Composed of thread and craft. Red thread.
red
tan · wisdom, dark
Shape of well for mining. Red.
red
sen
Composed of grass and west. Grass colored like sunset in west.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for red?
The most common kanji for "red" is 赤, read as seki. It means red. Related kanji: 朱 (red), 紅 (red), 丹 (red), 茜 (red).
How many strokes does 赤 have?
赤 has 7 strokes.