黄色信号(きいろしんごう)

きいろしんごう
noun
yellow traffic light; warning sign
transportationdaily-life
1. yellow traffic light
The amber signal at a traffic light indicating the light is about to turn red.
黄色信号(きいろしんごう)で止(と)まるべきだ。
You should stop at a yellow light.
黄色信号(きいろしんごう)を無視(むし)して交差点(こうさてん)に進入(しんにゅう)するのは危険(きけん)だ。
Ignoring the yellow light and entering the intersection is dangerous.
赤信号(あかしんごう)に変(か)わる直前(ちょくぜん)に黄色信号(きいろしんごう)を見(み)て慌(あわ)ててブレーキを踏(ふ)んだ。
I saw the yellow light just before it turned red and hit the brakes in a panic.
2. warning sign; caution signal
A figurative warning that something is heading in a dangerous or problematic direction.
子供(こども)の成績(せいせき)が下(さ)がってきたのは黄色信号(きいろしんごう)だと思(おも)う。
I think the drop in the child's grades is a warning sign.
経済(けいざい)に黄色信号(きいろしんごう)がともっている。
A warning signal is flashing for the economy.
最近(さいきん)体調(たいちょう)がすぐれないのは健康(けんこう)に黄色信号(きいろしんごう)がともっている証拠(しょうこ)かもしれない。
The fact that I haven't been feeling well recently may be proof that a warning sign is flashing for my health.

Literally "yellow signal." The figurative sense (warning sign) is very commonly used in news and everyday conversation, often with the verb ともる (to light up) or 点滅(てんめつ)する (to flash).

The expression 黄色信号(きいろしんごう)がともる conveys a sense of impending danger or the need for caution — stronger than a mere hint but not yet a full crisis (赤信号(あかしんごう)).

Common collocations

Related words

Related Words

Related: 赤信号(あかしんごう) (red light (literal and figurative)
Related: 青信号(あおしんごう) (green light (literal and figurative)
Related: 信号機(しんごうき) (traffic light)
general
Added 2026.4.19 22:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
24500/24518_kiiroshingou