The Kanji: 紫 (Shi / Murasaki)
The kanji 紫 means "purple" or "violet." It combines 此 (this) with 糸 (thread), reflecting the precious purple dye historically extracted from shellfish. This character represents the noble color between red and blue.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 紫色 (murasakiiro) - Purple color
彼女は紫色のドレスを着ている。
"She wears a purple dress."
2. 紫陽花 (ajisai) - Hydrangea
梅雨に紫陽花が咲く。
"Hydrangeas bloom during the rainy season."
3. 紫煙 (shien) - Purple smoke
紫煙が立ち込める。
"Purple smoke billows up."
4. 紫根 (shikon) - Lithospermum root
紫根は漢方薬に使われる。
"Lithospermum root is used in herbal medicine."
In summary, 紫 describes the purple color spectrum - from general hues (紫色) and flowers (紫陽花) to poetic imagery (紫煙) and traditional dyes (紫根). It carries historical prestige as the color of nobility.