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JLPT N55画 · 5 strokesradical 日grade 1freq #53

white, blank

On'yomi (音読み)

  • ハク
  • ビャク

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • しろ
  • しろ.い

Mnemonic

The sun (日) shines brightly, turning everything it touches into a brilliant white (白), like a blank canvas waiting for color.

About this kanji

The kanji 「白」 means "white" or "blank," and it is used as both a noun and an adjective in Japanese. One common word is 「白い」 (shiroi), which means "white," referring to the color of objects like snow or rice. Another interesting compound is 「白鳥」 (hakuchou), meaning "swan," which is a beautiful white bird. You might also come across 「白紙」 (hakushi), which means "blank paper," used when you need a fresh sheet to write on. In conversation, remember that the kanji can describe not just color but also things that are clear or empty.

Built from

Example sentences

  • 白い花が咲いています。

    White flowers are blooming.

Meanings across languages

English
white, blank
Tiếng Việt
màu trắng, trống
日本語
白, まっ白
한국어
흰색, 빈
中文
白色, 空白
id
putih, kosong
th
ขาว, ว่าง
es
blanco, vacío
fr
blanc, vide
de
weiß, leer
pt
branco, vazio

Common compounds

  • 白いしろいwhite
  • 白鳥はくちょうswan
  • 白紙はくしblank paper

Want to actually learn this kanji?

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