The Meaning of shingō [信号] In Japanese

信号
しんごう
Romaji: shingō N4

What does 信号 mean?

Translation and Meaning

signal, sign

Definition

信号 means a signal or sign that conveys information or instructions. It is commonly used for traffic lights and for signals in electronics or communications that indicate status or intent.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Traffic signal at road intersections that controls vehicles and pedestrians.
  • Electrical or communications signal indicating status, presence, or instruction in devices, systems, or networks.
  • Figurative cue or indication of intent or emotion in social or behavioral contexts.

Etymology

信 shin + 号 gō, a Sino-Japanese compound formed from two kanji whose on’yomi readings combine to name a sign that conveys information; the element 信 contributes the sense of trust or fidelity, while 号 contributes the notion of a mark or symbol, yielding a word for a signal.

Composition

  • 信: trust, belief;
  • 号: sign, symbol, number;
  • Together they form a concept of a sign that conveys information to guide actions.

Usage

Used across traffic, technology, and everyday speech. In formal registers it appears in engineering and public safety contexts; in casual language, 信号 is used to refer to signs or cues; typical constructions include 信号を守る, 信号を送る, 信号機, and concepts like 合図 that relate to signaling.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: view 信 as a steady trust and 号 as a sign; a trusted sign that tells you what to do—like a crossing light directing you to go or stop.

Variations

  • 合図 (あいず, aizu) – cue, signal
  • サイン (サイン, sain) – sign (loanword)
  • 兆候 (ちょうこう, chōkō) – omen, indication
  • 信号機 (しんごうき, shingōki) – traffic signal

Example Phrases

  • 信号が青になったので、私は急いで渡った。
    shingou ga ao ni natta node, watashi wa isoide watatta.
    Since the traffic light turned green, I hurried across.
    Lista:
    • 信号 (shingou) – traffic signal
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 青 (ao) – blue
    • に (ni) – to
    • なった (natta) – became
    • ので (node) – because
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 急いで (isoide) – hurriedly
    • 渡った (watatta) – crossed
    「信号」 funciona como o sujeito da oração; 「が」 marca o sujeito; 「青になった」 indica mudança; 「ので」 conecta a causa.
  • 横断 したい とき は 信号 を 待って 安全 に 渡る。
    oudan shitai toki wa shingou o matte anzen ni wataru.
    When you want to cross, wait for the signal and cross safely.
    Lista:
    • 横断 (oudan) – crossing
    • したい (shitai) – want to
    • とき (toki) – time/when
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 信号 (shingou) – signal
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 待って (matte) – wait
    • 安全 (anzen) – safety
    • に (ni) – to
    • 渡る (wataru) – to cross
    Aqui 「横断」 funciona como substantivo na expressão 「横断したいときは」, indicando ‘quando quiser atravessar’.
  • バスが信号で止まると、私も歩みを止める。
    Basu ga shingou de tomaru to, watashi mo ayumi o tomeru.
    When the bus stops at the traffic light, I also stop walking.
    Lista:
    • バスが (basu ga) – the bus
    • 信号で (shingou de) – at the traffic light
    • 止まると (tomaru to) – when it stops
    • 私も (watashi mo) – me too
    • 歩みを (ayumi o) – my steps
    • 止める (tomeru) – stop
    The verb 止まる is intransitive and means ‘to stop’; in this sentence it combines with と to express a conditional: ‘when the bus stops’. Put 「止まる」 among the Kanji or Japanese Words.
  • じっと信号を見つめて、車が動くのを待つ。
    jitto shingō o mitsumete, kuruma ga ugoku no o matsu.
    I stare fixedly at the traffic light and wait for the cars to move.
    Lista:
    • じっと (jitto) – motionlessly
    • 信号を (shingō o) – signal (object)
    • 見つめて (mitsumete) – looking intently
    • 車が (kuruma ga) – car (subject)
    • 動くのを (ugoku no o) – to move (object)
    • 待つ (matsu) – to wait
    In this context, 「じっと」 means to do something motionlessly, with a focused gaze; it modifies 見つめて.
信号