白い

• Reading: しろい
• Romaji: shiroi
• Kanji breakdown: 白 (shiro/haku) — white
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.ɾo.i/

Meaning

White. Describes the color white in objects, animals, and natural phenomena.

An i-adjective for the color white. One of the basic color adjectives in Japanese. Used widely: 白い雪 (white snow), 白い猫 (a white cat), 白いシャツ (a white shirt). Can also imply innocence or purity in certain contexts. The noun form is 白 (shiro). Conjugates regularly: 白くない, 白かった.

Examples

1. 白い雪が降っています。 White snow is falling.
2. 白いシャツを着ています。 I'm wearing a white shirt.
3. 白い犬が走っています。 A white dog is running.

Usage Guide

Context: colors, descriptions, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 白 originally depicted a grain of rice or a white seed, representing purity and whiteness. It is one of the oldest color characters in Japanese, used since the earliest written records.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal