青い

あおい
Alternative writings: 蒼い, 碧い
JLPT:N5
Frequency:
1

Blue; of the color blue (like the sky or sea).

I-Adjective

Examples

今日は空がとても青いので散歩に出かけよう。

The sky is very blue today, so let's go for a walk.

彼女は青いドレスを着てパーティーに来た。

She came to the party wearing a blue dress.

青い海が広がる景色に感動した。

I was moved by the view of the wide blue sea.

信号が青に変わったから渡りましょう。

The signal turned green/blue, so let's cross. (Japanese uses 青 for the traffic signal)

2

Green (archaic or specific usage): in some contexts, especially for plants, fruit, or traffic signals, 'ao(i)' can refer to green.

I-Adjective

Examples

熟していないリンゴはまだ青い。

An unripe apple is still green.

日本では信号の「青」は実際には緑色のことを指す場合がある。

In Japan, the traffic signal called 'ao' sometimes actually refers to a green color.

3

Pale; having a bluish or ashen complexion (e.g., from illness or shock).

I-Adjective

Examples

急に寒くて彼は青い顔をして震えていた。

It suddenly got cold and he was trembling with a pale/blue face.

心配で母は青い顔をして病院に来た。

Worried, my mother came to the hospital looking pale.

4

Unripe; inexperienced. Refers to fruit that is not ripe or a person who lacks experience.

I-Adjective

Examples

その果物はまだ青くて酸っぱいから、後で食べよう。

That fruit is still unripe and sour, so let's eat it later.

彼は仕事は熱心だが青いところがあるので、もう少し経験が必要だ。

He's enthusiastic about his work but inexperienced, so he needs a bit more experience.

青い果実を収穫してしまうと甘みが足りない。

If you harvest unripe fruit, it won't be sweet enough.

Word Relationships

Antonym
Derivations