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彤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
彤tóngred, vermillionzg, 7 strokes, radical 彡, rank #97421, Very Hard
彤tóngsurname Tongunknown, 7 strokes, radical 彡, rank #97421, Very Hard
tóng(Tong2)tong T2
  1. 1red, vermillion
Also a Chinese surname, Tong — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

彤tóng(Tong2)

The character 彤 (tóng) primarily means 'red' or 'vermilion', often used to describe a deep, vibrant shade of red. It can also refer to a surname, Tong. This character is often used in contexts related to traditional Chinese culture, such as festivals and auspicious symbols.

Strokes7Radical彡Frequency#97421DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the color red symbolizes good luck, joy, and prosperity, making it a popular choice for decorations during celebrations like the Lunar New Year. 彤 specifically evokes a sense of brightness and happiness associated with traditional festivities.

Memory Tip

Imagine a red painting (彤) splashed on a canvas. The character has a 't' sound at the beginning, like 'ta-da!' when unveiling something beautiful and vibrant. The two components suggest a vibrant color, making it easy to remember that 彤 is all about 'red'.

Meanings of 彤

tóng(Tong2)
1red, vermillion
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 彤

彤Simplified
7Strokes
彡Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 彤

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Podcast: 彤

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AI Study Notes for 彤

Quick Contrast

朱 (zhū) - use 朱 when referring to a specific red pigment or color, while 彤 is more about a vibrant shade of red in cultural contexts.

Usage Notes

彤 is usually used in more formal or literary contexts when describing colors, so it might not appear in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with other colors like 红 (hóng), which is a more common term for red. It often appears in phrases like '彤云' (tóng yún) meaning red clouds, which symbolize good fortune.

HSK Study Tips

Although 彤 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it connects to the HSK level 3 word 红 (hóng). Students should focus on recognizing color terms and their nuances, as 彤 adds depth to the understanding of red shades in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 彤 with 红 (hóng) and use them interchangeably, which can lead to miscommunication. For example, saying '我喜欢彤色的衣服' (I like red clothes) should be corrected to '我喜欢红色的衣服'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 彤

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Etymology of 彤

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 丹 represents the meaning and 彡 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

red

Semantic (meaning)丹
+
Phonetic (sound)彡
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

彤 = 丹 + 彡. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 彤

IDS Structure⿰丹彡
彤Full Character
=
丹dan1
left
彡shan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 彤?

How to say red, vermillion in Chinese

“red, vermillion” in Chinese is彤tóng

The character 彤 (tóng) primarily means 'red' or 'vermilion', often used to describe a deep, vibrant shade of red. It can also refer to a surname, Tong. This character is often used in contexts related to traditional Chinese culture, such as festivals and auspicious symbols.

When to use 彤

彤 is usually used in more formal or literary contexts when describing colors, so it might not appear in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with other colors like 红 (hóng), which is a more common term for red. It often appears in phrases like '彤云' (tóng yún) meaning red clouds, which symbolize good fortune.

彤 or something close to it

朱 (zhū) - use 朱 when referring to a specific red pigment or color, while 彤 is more about a vibrant shade of red in cultural contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 彤 with 红 (hóng) and use them interchangeably, which can lead to miscommunication. For example, saying '我喜欢彤色的衣服' (I like red clothes) should be corrected to '我喜欢红色的衣服'.

Write 彤

彤

Practice writing 彤 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 彤

Words Containing This Character2
彤tóngsurname Tong
红彤彤bright red紅彤彤
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 彤

What does 红彤彤 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 彤

彤 specifically refers to a vibrant shade of red or vermilion, while 红 is a more general term for red.

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