Japanese kanji 白: white

The idea

A kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on); learn each reading with its word. Compare 白（しろ） and 白紙（はくし） in the table. 白 has 5 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Examples

• 雪ゆきはとても白しろいです。The snow is very white.
• 庭にわに白しろい猫ねこがいます。There is a white cat in the garden.
• 白しろい紙かみに名前なまえを書かきます。I write my name on white paper.
• 白紙はくしを一枚いちまい、ください。One blank sheet of paper, please.
• 机つくえの上うえに白しろいカップがあります。There is a white cup on the desk.
• この映画えいがはとても面白おもしろいです。This film is very interesting.

Watch out

白 is read しろ, while 白紙 is read はくし. Learn the reading of each complete word; the character does not have just one pronunciation. 白い means “white”, but 面白い means “interesting” or “amusing”; its meaning is not a color.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 白 in hiragana.

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   しろ

   白 is read しろ; the expression means “white”.

2. Write the reading of 白紙 in hiragana.

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   はくし

   白紙 is read はくし; the expression means “blank paper”.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿紙（はくし）.

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   白

   白 completes 白紙, read はくし; the expression means “blank paper”.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 白 from memory, and read 白 and 白紙 aloud. Check both the readings and meanings.