虹
虹·rainbow
- On-yomi
- コウ
- Kun-yomi
- にじ
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 虹 | にじ | rainbow |
| 虹色 | にじいろ | rainbow-coloured, iridescent |
| 虹彩 | こうさい | iris (of the eye) |
| 虹鱒 | にじます | rainbow trout |
Example sentences
雨上がりの空に大きな虹が出た。
あめあがりのそらにおおきなにじがでた。
A big rainbow appeared in the sky after the rain.
彼女は虹色のスカーフを巻いていた。
かのじょはにじいろのスカーフをまいていた。
She was wearing a rainbow-coloured scarf.
眼科で虹彩の検査を受けた。
がんかでこうさいのけんさをうけた。
I had my irises examined at the eye clinic.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 虹 as こう on its own — alone it is にじ; こう appears in 虹彩
- Writing 虹 with the thread radical 糸 instead of 虫
Memory aid
Picture it
The insect radical 虫 plus 工: the old picture of a rainbow was a great arching serpent, so it was written with the creature radical.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 虹 mean?