How to say "gold" in Japanese

• 金きんJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe ordinary word for gold as a metal or material — bullion, coins, jewellery. When you mean the substance itself rather than its colour, this is the word to reach for.
  輝かがやくものすべてが金きんとは限かぎらない。↗

  All that glitters is not gold.
• 黄金こがねCommon
  nounThe native Japanese reading, with a poetic, literary flavour; it evokes the warm yellow gleam of the metal rather than gold as a raw material, and suits elevated, evocative writing.
• ゴールドCommon
  no-adjectiveThe English loanword, at home in commercial and fashion contexts — product names, shop signage, colour labels. It typically refers to the colour gold or to gold as a fashionable material.
• 黄金おうごんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe Sino-Japanese reading, the form to use when gold is meant as the chemical element (Au), as in scientific or technical contexts; in figurative use it carries a grand, elevated tone.
  絵えの中なかの少女しょうじょは黄金おうごんではなくて花はなのかんむりをかぶっています。↗

  The girl in the picture is wearing a crown not of gold but of flowers.
• 金色きんいろCommon
  no-adjectiveStrictly the colour gold — the yellow metallic shade — and not the metal itself. Use it when describing the colour of something, such as hair, fabric or autumn leaves.
  ドアには大おおきな金色きんいろの星ほしがついていました。↗

  There was a big gold star on the door.

Use 金 for the metal itself, 金色 for the colour, 「ゴールド」 in Western-style commercial contexts, and 黄金 as おうごん for the element Au or こがね for a poetic, literary flavour.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 金きんgold (metal)
• 黄金こがねgold
• ゴールドgold
• 黄金おうごんgold (Au)
• 金色きんいろgold (colour, color)