赤 means “red”

あか · aka

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

あか, あかい, あからむ, あからめる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

セキ, シャク

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 1 · 7 strokes

The story

The color of torii gates, daruma dolls, and autumn maple leaves. In Japan, 赤 symbolizes vitality and good fortune: brides wear red-lined kimono, and babies receive red envelopes for luck.

Used in 赤ちゃん (akachan, baby) and 赤字 (akaji, deficit/red ink)

Words with 赤

• 赤字 (あかじ, akaji): deficit / red ink
• 赤字 (あかじ, akaji): deficit / red ink

More from Colors & Shapes

• 青 blue
• 白 white
• 黒 black
• 色 color
• 黄 yellow
• 緑 green
• 紫 purple
• 金 gold
• 銀 silver
• 丸 circle
• 角 angle
• 線 line

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

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