unknown, 14 strokes, radical 羽, rank #11781, Very Hard
翠
cuì
green jade
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 羽, rank #11781, Very Hard
cuì(cui4) T4
1kingfisher; jade, emerald
2bluish-green
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March 24, 2026
翠cuì(cui4)
The character 翠 (cuì) primarily refers to a kingfisher, a bird known for its vibrant blue-green feathers. It is also associated with jade or emerald, particularly in the context of color, describing shades of bluish-green that are often admired in Chinese culture for their beauty and preciousness.
Strokes14Radical羽Frequency#11781DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, jade (翡翠) is highly valued not only for its beauty but also for its symbolism of purity and moral integrity. The color and material are often incorporated into jewelry and art, reflecting cultural reverence for nature.
Memory Tip
Imagine a kingfisher (翠) swooping down to catch fish in a shimmering emerald pond. The character has the '禾' (grain) radical at the bottom, suggesting nature, while the '彡' (bristles) on top evokes the vibrant feathers of the bird. Remember 'cuì' sounds like 'sway', as in the bird swaying through the air.
Meanings of 翠
cuì(cui4)
1kingfisher; jade, emerald
2bluish-green
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 翠
翠Simplified
14Strokes
羽Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 翠
Podcast: 翠
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AI Study Notes for 翠
Quick Contrast
翡翠 (hǔcuì) refers specifically to jadeite, a type of jade, while 翠 (cuì) can describe the color or the kingfisher bird, making 翠 a broader term.
Usage Notes
While 翠 can be used to describe colors or precious stones, it is often employed in more poetic or artistic contexts. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations; instead, reserve it for discussions about nature or art. Be mindful of the tone; the second tone 'cuì' can be confused with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 翠 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, its connection to nature and color can enhance your understanding of descriptive language in Chinese. Focus on using it in sentences describing beauty or aesthetics, which can also tie into HSK vocabulary related to nature.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 翠 with other colors like 绿 (lǜ, green) or 青 (qīng, blue/green), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我喜欢翠的苹果' (I like jade apples) is incorrect; instead, use '我喜欢绿色的苹果' (I like green apples).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 翠
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Phonosemantic compound. 羽 represents the meaning and 卒 represents the sound.
1The meaning half羽 carries the sense.
2The sound half卒 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywings
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 翠? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 翠?
Decomposition of 翠
IDS Structure⿱羽卒
翠Full Character
=
羽yu3
top
卒cu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 翠?
How to say kingfisher; jade, emerald in Chinese
“kingfisher; jade, emerald” in Chinese is翠cuì
The character 翠 (cuì) primarily refers to a kingfisher, a bird known for its vibrant blue-green feathers. It is also associated with jade or emerald, particularly in the context of color, describing shades of bluish-green that are often admired in Chinese culture for their beauty and preciousness.
When to use 翠
While 翠 can be used to describe colors or precious stones, it is often employed in more poetic or artistic contexts. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations; instead, reserve it for discussions about nature or art. Be mindful of the tone; the second tone 'cuì' can be confused with similar-sounding words.
翠 or something close to it
翡翠 (hǔcuì) refers specifically to jadeite, a type of jade, while 翠 (cuì) can describe the color or the kingfisher bird, making 翠 a broader term.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 翠 with other colors like 绿 (lǜ, green) or 青 (qīng, blue/green), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我喜欢翠的苹果' (I like jade apples) is incorrect; instead, use '我喜欢绿色的苹果' (I like green apples).
Write 翠
翠
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Practice writing 翠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 翠
翠 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 4
Complete the Sentence
瑰珀____刚推出一款新果酱——伍斯特浆果果酱。
Crabtree & Evelyn has just launched a new jam, Worcesterberry Preserve.
