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绯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
绯fēicrimson, scarlet; purplen, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #93023, Very Hard
绯fēidark redunknown, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #93023, Very Hard
绯fēipurple silkunknown, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #93023, Very Hard
fēi(fei1) T1
  1. 1crimson, scarlet; purple
  2. 2dark red
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March 24, 2026
绯(緋)fēi(fei1)

The character 绯 (fēi) refers to a deep, rich color often described as crimson or scarlet. It is commonly used in contexts related to fashion, art, and descriptions of nature, evoking a sense of vibrancy and elegance. In addition, it can denote a specific shade of purple or dark red, often associated with luxury fabrics like silk.

Strokes11Radical纟Frequency#93023DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the color 绯 is often associated with auspiciousness and celebration, frequently appearing in traditional clothing and decorations during festivals and weddings. This rich color symbolizes happiness and good fortune.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fiery red phoenix flying through a purple sky. The character 绯 contains the radical 糸 (mì), which relates to silk, reminding you that 'fēi' can also refer to purple silk. Picture that phoenix draped in luxurious crimson silk as it soars.

Meanings of 绯

fēi(fei1)
1crimson, scarlet; purple
2dark red
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 绯

绯Simplified
緋Traditional
11Strokes
纟Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 绯

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Podcast: 绯

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 绯

Quick Contrast

绯 (fēi) vs 朱 (zhū) — use 绯 for deeper, richer shades like crimson, while 朱 is more for bright red.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a fiery red phoenix flying through a purple sky. The character 绯 contains the radical 糸 (mì), which relates to silk, reminding you that 'fēi' can also refer to purple silk. Picture that phoenix draped in luxurious crimson silk as it soars.

Usage Notes

When using 绯, be careful not to confuse it with similar colors like 红 (hóng, red) or 紫 (zǐ, purple). It is typically used in more formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include 绯色 (fēi sè, crimson color) and 绯红 (fēi hóng, scarlet).

HSK Study Tips

While 绯 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be useful for learners aiming for a deeper understanding of colors in Chinese. Focus on associating this word with other colors to enhance your vocabulary and descriptive skills.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the color 绯 is often associated with auspiciousness and celebration, frequently appearing in traditional clothing and decorations during festivals and weddings. This rich color symbolizes happiness and good fortune.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 绯 with 红 (hóng) due to their similar meanings. For example, saying '我喜欢绯苹果' (Wǒ xǐhuān fēi píngguǒ) is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢红苹果' (Wǒ xǐhuān hóng píngguǒ) for 'I like red apples.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 绯

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Etymology of 绯

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

Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 非 represents the sound. Simplified form of 緋.

Memory Hint

silk

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 绯?

Decomposition of 绯

IDS Structure⿰纟非
绯Full Character
=
纟si1
left
非Fei1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 绯?

Write 绯

绯

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

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Grammar Patterns of 绯

绯 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 5

Complete the Sentence

一位面颊____红、一副乡下贵族打扮的老妇人出现在门口。

An older woman, pink-cheeked and tweedy, appeared in the doorway.

Example Sentences for 绯 (4)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
一位面颊绯红、一副乡下贵族打扮的老妇人出现在门口。

yī wèi miàn jiá fēi hóng、 、 yī fù xiāng xià guì zú dǎ bàn de lǎo fù rén chū xiàn zài mén。

An older woman, pink-cheeked and tweedy, appeared in the doorway.
2
转眼间杰拉尔德的绿眼就更加神采奕奕,在它们热烈的注视下, 伯莎满面绯红.

zhuǎn yǎn jiān jié lā ěr dé de lǜ yǎn jiù gēng jiā shén cǎi yì yì, , zài tā mén rè liè de zhù shì, xià , bó suō mǎn miàn.

Presently Gerald's green eyes flashed more brightly, and Bertha turned red before their ardent gaze.
3
梦中的风光比银白海洋旁边绯红的宝塔更加旖旎艳丽.

mèng zhōng de fēng guāng bǐ yín bái hǎi yáng páng biān fēi hóng de bǎo tǎ gēng jiā yǐ nǐ yàn lì.

A dream is more romantic than scarlet pagodas by a silver sea.
4
她的双颊染上一层绯红.

tā de shuāng jiá rǎn shàng yī céng fēi hóng.

A deep flush dyed her cheeks.

Cultural Notes for 绯

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the color 绯 is often associated with auspiciousness and celebration, frequently appearing in traditional clothing and decorations during festivals and weddings. This rich color symbolizes happiness and good fortune.

Word Family of 绯

Words Containing This Character3
绯闻fēiwénsex scandal緋聞
绯fēidark red緋
绯红crimson緋紅
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 绯闻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 绯

It is pronounced as 'fēi', with a high-level tone.