purple

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 紫 has 12 strokes and denotes purple.
• Basic usage: 紫 is read むらさき, and 紫外線 is read しがいせん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Describing a color
  • 紫のスカーフ means a purple scarf.
  • 紫 takes の before the object whose color it describes.
  • 空が薄い紫に染まった means the sky turned pale purple.
  • に marks the resulting color.
• Compound reading
  • 紫外線 means ultraviolet rays; in this word, 紫 is read し.