indigo

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 藍 is read あい, has 18 strokes, and relates to indigo.
• Basic usage: 藍 is read あい, and 藍色 is read あいいろ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 藍 and 藍色
  • 藍 means indigo.
  • 畑で育てた藍の葉から染料を作ります。 means “We make dye from indigo leaves grown in the field.”
  • 藍色 means indigo or dark blue.
  • 夕暮れの空が深い藍色に変わった。 means “At sunset, the sky turned deep indigo.”