white in japanese

The common Japanese word for “white” is 白い (shiroi) when describing something as white. The noun or color name is 白 (shiro). Japanese adjectives change form, so use shiroi before a noun, as in shiroi hana (“a white flower”).

How to Say White in Japanese

Use 白い (shiroi) to describe a white object and 白 (shiro) when naming the color. This distinction matters because Japanese uses the adjective form before a noun. The character 白 also appears in 白米, white rice, with the reading haku in that compound.

Different Ways to Use White

白い (Shiroi): The Adjective “White”

白い is an i-adjective. Put it before a noun to describe its color: 白い犬 means “a white dog.” The pronunciation is shee-roh-ee, with three clear vowel sounds.

白 (Shiro): The Color White

白 is the color as a noun. For example, 白が一番好きです means “I like white best.” You may also see it in compound words, such as 白紙 (hakushi, “blank paper”).

Useful Forms of Shiroi

Because shiroi is an i-adjective, it conjugates regularly. The negative present is 白くない (shirokunai, “not white”), and the past is 白かった (shirokatta, “was white”). Do not add na directly after shiroi.

Common Usage Tips

For a simple description, place shiroi directly before the noun, as in shiroi neko (“white cat”). When stating a sentence politely, use shiroi desu. The color noun shiro can stand alone, as in shiro ga suki (“I like white”).

Shiroi vs. Shiro

Pronunciation

Shiroi has three morae: shi-ro-i. Keep the final i distinct instead of blending it into the previous syllable. Shiro has two morae: shi-ro.

Example Sentences

Summary: White in Japanese

Use 白い (shiroi) to describe something as white and 白 (shiro) to name the color.