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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)fei 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

By ear

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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

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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.

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.

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

Origin

绯 = 纟 + 非. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 绯

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

Parts

Which of these is part of 绯?

How to say crimson, scarlet; purple in Chinese

“crimson, scarlet; purple” in Chinese is绯fēi

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.

When to use 绯

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).

绯 or something close to it

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

What learners get wrong

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.'

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

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

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)

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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 xiāngxia guìzú dǎban de lǎo fù rén chūxiàn zài ménkǒu。

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.

zhuǎnyǎn jiān jié lā ěr dé de lǜ yǎn jiù gèngjiā shén cǎi yì yì, zài tāmen rèliè de zhùshì xià, bà shā mǎn miàn fēi hóng.

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 fēngguāng bǐ yín bái hǎiyáng pángbiān fēi hóng de bǎotǎ gèngjiā yǐ nǐ yànlì.

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.

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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 2

Words with 绯

What does 绯闻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 绯

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

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