Color meanings in Chinese

颜色

Example:

What color do you like?

你喜欢什么颜色？

The sky is a beautiful blue color.

天空是美丽的蓝色。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used in everyday conversations, art, design, and descriptions.

Note: This meaning refers to the visual attribute of objects that results from the way they reflect or emit light.

色彩

Example:

The colors of the painting are vibrant.

这幅画的色彩非常鲜艳。

She has a good sense of color.

她有很好的色彩感。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Often used in artistic contexts or when discussing aesthetics.

Note: This term emphasizes the richness and variety of colors, often in artistic or design contexts.

肤色

Example:

People have different skin colors.

人们的肤色各不相同。

She is proud of her skin color.

她为自己的肤色感到自豪。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used in discussions about race, identity, and diversity.

Note: This meaning specifically refers to the tone or shade of a person's skin.

色调

Example:

The artist chose a warm tone for this piece.

艺术家为这幅作品选择了温暖的色调。

The room has a cool tone with its blue walls.

这个房间的蓝色墙壁给人一种冷色调的感觉。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used in art, design, and discussions about aesthetics.

Note: This refers to the specific quality of color, such as warmth or coolness.

色彩理论

Example:

Color theory is essential for artists.

色彩理论对艺术家来说至关重要。

She studied color theory in art school.

她在艺术学校学习了色彩理论。

Usage: formalContext: Used in academic or educational discussions, particularly in art and design.

Note: This term refers to the study of how colors interact and the principles behind color mixing.

颜色编码

Example:

The color coding in the chart helps to organize the data.

图表中的颜色编码有助于组织数据。

They use color coding for different categories.

他们使用颜色编码来区分不同的类别。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used in technical, organizational, and educational contexts.

Note: This meaning refers to the practice of using different colors to categorize or designate information.

hue

Hue refers to a particular shade or tint of a color.

Example: She painted the walls a bright hue of blue.

Note: Hue specifically refers to the attribute of a color by virtue of which it is discernible as red, green, blue, etc.

shade

Shade refers to a variation of a color by adding black to it.

Example: He preferred a darker shade of green for his car.

Note: Shade specifically refers to the darkness or lightness of a color, often achieved by adding black.

tint

Tint refers to a slight or pale coloring of a color.

Example: She added a pink tint to the frosting.

Note: Tint specifically refers to a slight coloration or variation of a color, often achieved by adding white.

tone

Tone refers to a particular quality, color, or shading of a color.

Example: The artist used various tones of yellow in the painting.

Note: Tone specifically refers to the particular quality or character of a color, especially in terms of lightness or darkness.

pigment

Pigment refers to a substance that gives color to a material.

Example: The pigment used in this paint is environmentally friendly.

Note: Pigment specifically refers to the coloring substance itself, often used in paints, inks, and dyes.

Colorful language

This phrase refers to the use of profanity or strong language.

Example: She used colorful language when she was angry.

Note: The term 'colorful' here implies vivid or intense language, rather than a literal reference to colors.

See the world through rose-colored glasses

To see things in a overly optimistic or positive way, ignoring any negative aspects.

Example: She always sees the world through rose-colored glasses, believing everything is perfect.

Note: The phrase uses 'rose-colored glasses' metaphorically to describe a positive outlook, rather than referring to actual colors.

A horse of a different color

Refers to a different matter or situation than the one previously mentioned.

Example: I thought he was talking about the economy, but he was really discussing politics - a horse of a different color!

Note: The phrase uses 'color' metaphorically to indicate a change in topic or situation.

Give color to something

To make something more interesting or vivid by adding details or embellishments.

Example: His storytelling really gave color to the historical events he described.

Note: In this context, 'color' enhances the richness or depth of a story or description.

Nail your colors to the mast

To make your opinions or allegiances clear and public.

Example: She nailed her colors to the mast by openly supporting the new policy.

Note: The phrase originates from naval warfare where ships would nail their flag (colors) to the mast to show their allegiance, not referring to literal colors.

True colors

Someone's true character, intentions, or beliefs that are revealed in a particular situation.

Example: It was only after the crisis that his true colors were revealed.

Note: The phrase explores the essence or reality of a person rather than just their outward appearance or color.

In living color

Refers to something being filmed or presented in full and vivid color.

Example: The film was shot in living color, capturing the vibrant scenery beautifully.

Note: The term 'living color' emphasizes the vividness and realism of the colors being depicted.

Blacked out

This slang term means something is completely dark or without color, often used to describe a situation where all light is lost.

Example: The power went out, so the whole street was blacked out.

Note: This term refers specifically to darkness or lack of color and is not related to the term 'black' meaning the color black.

Fade

To fade means to lose intensity or vibrancy, commonly used in reference to colors losing their brightness or becoming lighter.

Example: Her hair color started to fade after weeks under the sun.

Note: In this context, fade is related to color losing its hue, not to be confused with the normal meaning of gradually disappearing or becoming less noticeable.

Pop of color

A pop of color refers to adding a bold, bright, or contrasting color to something to make it stand out or draw attention.

Example: She added a pop of color to her outfit with a bright yellow scarf.

Note: This expression emphasizes the sudden appearance of a vivid color, enhancing the overall visual impact of an object or a scene.

Faded

Faded typically describes colors that have lost their original brightness or vibrancy, often due to prolonged exposure to light or other elements.

Example: The painting on the wall looked faded after years of exposure to sunlight.

Note: In this context, the word faded is specifically used to describe colors that have become less intense over time and is not related to the broader usage of fading.

Splash of color

Similar to a pop of color, a splash of color refers to adding a bright or vivid color to something to create contrast or draw attention.

Example: The artist added a splash of color to the otherwise monochrome painting.

Note: This phrase emphasizes the addition of color in a dynamic or striking way, often used in visual arts and design.

Blurred lines

Blurred lines refer to a situation where distinctions or boundaries between different colors, ideas, or concepts become unclear or indistinct.

Example: The boundaries between the colors in the painting were so blurred that it created a mesmerizing effect.

Note: This expression extends the meaning of 'blurred' beyond its usual association with visual clarity, highlighting ambiguity or complexity.

Color me surprised

This phrase is a whimsical way to express surprise or shock at a revelation or unexpected event.

Example: Color me surprised when I found out who the anonymous donor was!

Note: The phrase plays on the idea of figuratively coloring oneself in response to a surprising situation, adding a humorous or playful tone to the expression of surprise.

The color of the sky is blue.

天空的颜色是蓝色的。

She mixed different colors to create a new shade.

她混合了不同的颜色来创造一种新的色调。

The artist used a lot of paint to color the canvas.

艺术家使用了很多颜料来给画布上色。

Color - Noun (Noun) / Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass)

Lemma: color

Conjugations

Noun, plural (Noun, plural): colors, color

Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): color

Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): colored

Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): coloring

Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): colors

Verb, base form (Verb, base form): color

Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): color

Syllables, Separation and Stress

color Contains 2 syllables: col • or

Phonetic transcription: ˈkə-lər

col or , ˈkə lər (The red syllable is stressed)

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

color: 600 - 700 (Extremely common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Color