Meaning and Usage
The word 赤 (あか) primarily means "red," referring to the color. It is a common noun and also appears as a prefix or adjective form 赤い (あかい) to describe things that are red.
Common Contexts
赤 is often used in everyday conversation to describe colors of objects, such as clothes, traffic lights, and natural phenomena. It can also appear in compound words or idiomatic expressions.
Collocations and Patterns
- 赤い + noun: to describe something red (e.g., 赤い花 - red flower)
- 赤ちゃん: baby (literally "little red one"), a common affectionate term for infants
- 赤信号 (あかしんごう): red traffic light, used in driving contexts
Register and Nuance
赤 is a neutral, common word suitable for all levels of formality. When used as 赤い, it functions as an i-adjective.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 赤 (noun) and 赤い (adjective). Remember 赤 is the noun "red," while 赤い is the adjective "red" used to modify nouns.