紫 means “purple”

むらさき · murasaki

Also: violet

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

むらさき

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シ

Taught in secondary school · 12 strokes

The story

The most noble color in Japan. 紫 was once reserved for the highest-ranking aristocrats: only emperors and court nobles could wear it. Lady Murasaki, author of The Tale of Genji, took her pen name from this regal hue.

Used in 紫外線 (shigaisen, ultraviolet) and 紫陽花 (ajisai, hydrangea)

More from Colors & Shapes

• 金 gold
• 銀 silver
• 丸 circle
• 角 angle
• 線 line
• 形 shape
• 点 point
• 面 face
• 太 thick
• 細 thin
• 赤 red
• 青 blue

Learn 紫 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.