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Tyler Chapman
青 vs 緑 which is used in modern Japanese
I've tried looking but never found a straight answer (that is if there is one), which color for green is used in modern Japanese. I understand 青 can mean both blue and green, but 緑 was also created solely for green. Which should I use, or would I be able to use either character as I please?
Jan 30, 2018 11:22 PM
Comments · 7
3
In old Japanese (more than 1500 years ago),
青（あお） also meant green, while in modern Japanese, their meanings are cleary divided, 青（blue) and 緑（green).
However, the old way still remain in some expressions including:
- 青い山脈：green mountains.
an old song, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRtHLgmnsfg
- 青丹色（AONI color, looks nothing but green)
- 青々とした木々
Most of 青い for green is used for old fashioned thing, or in literature or idiom.
But one exception is '青信号', a very common word even a child knows.
you can say '緑の野菜（緑黄野菜）'、’緑の山/森/木々'', which make sense.
But you must call the 'green light', '青信号'.
FYI:
The signal/semaphore was first introduced in Japan in 1930,when the goverment stated in the law '緑信号'. However people called it '青信号' , which became the word for it.
January 31, 2018
2
Some scholars say:
In the very old Japanese language, we have only 4 words to describe colors.They are
- くろ：black
- しろ：white
- あか：all the bright colors between black and white
- あお：all the dark colors between black and white
That's why あお（青）includes blue and green at the same time.
+++ FYI 1:
- あか -> bright -> 赤(red)
and
- あか -> bright -> clear
-> make it clear -> explain
-> 明（あか）るい ：bright,
明（あ）かす ：confess),
～に明るい ：knows much about)
明（あきら）か ：clear/indisputable
明白（めいはく） ：clear/indisputable
(bright and white?)
+++ FYI 2:
you call a young person a "green boy",
we call him "青二才".
+++ FYI3:
In the old Japanese, 4 seasons were sometimes called
青春（せいしゅん）
朱夏（しゅか）
白秋（はくしゅう）
玄冬（げんとう）.
They literally means ：
'blue spring',
'red summer',
'white autumn',
'black winter'.
The word '青春(green spring)' is now in the modern Japanese used to express 'youth'.
January 31, 2018
2
緑 is a general term meaning green in modern Japanese. 青 means green only in certain phrases. 青 in 青信号 means the colour green in real life, but 青信号 is the only way to call the green light in Japanese. 緑信号 sounds odd. The same goes for the phrase 青野菜. 青野菜 are not blue vegetables but green vegetables. We also call green apples 青リンゴ, not 緑リンゴ, although they are definitely green. 緑 and 青 meaning green are not interchangeable. Hope this helps.
January 31, 2018
1
You were both great help, thank you!
January 31, 2018
Wow, AKI-san's explanation is superb!! I actually learned a lot and am starting to question if I'm really a native speaker. haha
January 31, 2018
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Tyler Chapman
Language Skills
English, Japanese, Spanish
Learning Language
Japanese
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