Readings: ハク (Onyomi), しろ・しろい (Kunyomi)
Meaning: white
白 is a basic kanji that means “white”. It is used both as a color word and as a radical in many other kanji (like 百). This kanji appears frequently in daily life, especially in color descriptions and symbolic meanings.
View JLPT N5 Kanji ListKanji Details
Radical | 白 (white radical) |
---|---|
Strokes | 5 |
JLPT Level | N5 |
Grade | 1st Grade |
Readings
Onyomi | ハク (haku) |
---|---|
Kunyomi | しろ、しろい (shiro, shiroi) |
How to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 白 has 5 strokes. It’s shaped like a window with a dot, resembling something bright and open – easy to associate with “white.”
- Start with the top horizontal stroke
- Draw the box part (口-like shape)
- End with the small stroke inside

Example Sentences
Japanese: 白い猫がいます。
Kana: しろいねこがいます。
Romaji: Shiroi neko ga imasu.
English: There is a white cat.
Japanese: 雪は白いです。
Kana: ゆきはしろいです。
Romaji: Yuki wa shiroi desu.
English: Snow is white.
Japanese: 白いシャツを着ます。
Kana: しろいシャツをきます。
Romaji: Shiroi shatsu o kimasu.
English: I wear a white shirt.
Vocabulary Using 白
Word | Reading | Meaning |
---|---|---|
白 | しろ | white (noun) |
白い | しろい | white (adjective) |
白人 | はくじん | white person |
白紙 | はくし | blank paper |
面白い | おもしろい | interesting, fun |
🔗 N5 Grammar & Vocabulary

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