1.
green light; green traffic signal
A green traffic light indicating that it is safe to proceed.
青信号で渡る。
To cross at the green light.
青信号になったら進んでください。
Please proceed when the light turns green.
青信号に変わったのに、前の車が動かない。
The light turned green, but the car in front won't move.
2.
go-ahead; green light; approval
Used figuratively to mean permission or approval to proceed with something.
計画に青信号が出た。
The plan got the green light.
上司から青信号をもらった。
I got the go-ahead from my boss.
新しいプロジェクトに青信号が出たので、さっそく準備を始めた。
The new project got the green light, so we started preparations right away.
Literally "blue signal." In Japanese, the color 青 covers both blue and green. Traffic lights in Japan are officially called 青 even though they appear green.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 青信号で渡る: to cross at the green light
- 青信号になる: the light turns green
- 青信号が出る: to get the green light (figurative)
- 青信号をもらう: to receive approval
CULTURAL NOTE:
Japan uses 青 (blue) rather than 緑 (green) for traffic lights. This reflects the traditional Japanese color system where 青 encompassed a wider range including what English speakers would call green. In 1973, the Japanese government officially mandated that traffic lights be made as blue-green as possible to better match the word 青.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 赤信号: red light — stop signal, also used figuratively for danger
- 黄信号: yellow light — caution signal