黄信号(きしんごう)

きしんごう
noun
yellow light; warning sign; caution signal
transportationabstract
1. yellow traffic light; amber signal
The yellow light on a traffic signal that appears between green and red, indicating that drivers should prepare to stop.
黄信号(きしんごう)で止(と)まった。
I stopped at the yellow light.
黄信号(きしんごう)で加速(かそく)するのは危険(きけん)だ。
Accelerating on a yellow light is dangerous.
交差点(こうさてん)に差(さ)しかかったとき、ちょうど黄信号(きしんごう)に変(か)わった。
Just as I reached the intersection, the light turned yellow.
2. warning sign; cause for concern
A figurative signal that something is heading in a dangerous or problematic direction. Used for health, relationships, business situations, and other domains where trouble is brewing.
健康(けんこう)に黄信号(きしんごう)がともった。
A warning sign appeared regarding my health.
売上(うりあげ)の減少(げんしょう)は経営(けいえい)に黄信号(きしんごう)だ。
The decline in sales is a warning sign for the business.
最近(さいきん)残業(ざんぎょう)が続(つづ)いていて、体調(たいちょう)に黄信号(きしんごう)が出(で)ている。
I've been working overtime a lot lately, and there are warning signs for my health.

Composed of 黄(き) (yellow) and 信号(しんごう) (signal, traffic light). The literal meaning refers to the amber phase of a traffic light, but the figurative sense — a warning that something is going wrong — is equally common in everyday Japanese.

The figurative use typically appears with verbs like ともる (to light up), 点(つ)く (to turn on), or 出(で)る (to appear), creating vivid imagery of a warning light switching on.

Common collocations

  • 黄信号(きしんごう)がともる: a warning light comes on
  • 黄信号(きしんごう)が点(つ)く: a caution signal lights up
  • 黄信号(きしんごう)が出(で)る: a warning sign appears
  • 健康(けんこう)に黄信号(きしんごう): a health warning sign
  • 経営(けいえい)に黄信号(きしんごう): a business warning sign

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 赤信号(あかしんごう) (red light)
Compare: 青信号(あおしんごう) (green light)
Compare: 警告(けいこく) (warning)
general
Added 2026.4.18 3:28 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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