Meanings of 色
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About 色
Podcast: 色
Podcast: 色
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AI Study Notes for 色
颜色 (yánsè) vs 色彩 (sècǎi) — use 色 (sè) for general references to color, while 颜色 (yánsè) emphasizes the specific hue and 色彩 (sècǎi) focuses on the artistic or aesthetic aspects of color.
Learners often confuse 色 with other characters related to appearance, such as 颜 (yán) for 'face.' In informal contexts, 色 can also imply sexuality, so be cautious with its usage in mixed company. Common collocations include 色彩 (sècǎi, 'colorful') and 色调 (sèdiào, 'shade').
While 色 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it connects well with related vocabulary like 彩 (cǎi, 'color') and 颜 (yán, 'color/face'). Focus on using it in phrases to describe objects and emotions to enhance your vocabulary.
Learners may incorrectly use 色 to mean 'face' instead of 颜 (yán), as in saying 色的 (sè de) instead of 颜的 (yán de) when describing someone's face. Always ensure you are using the right word based on context.
Pronunciation of 色
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Etymology of 色
Depicts a kneeling person (卩) being held down by a knife (刀). Based on the original meaning "restrain", now written as 抑. The current meaning "color" is a phonetic loan.
What a person ⺈ desires 巴
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 色
Depicts a kneeling person (卩) being held down by a knife (刀). Based on the original meaning "restrain", now written as 抑. The current meaning "color" is a phonetic loan.
- 1The giveawayWhat a person ⺈ desires 巴
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 色? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 色?
Decomposition of 色
Identify the Components
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How to say color in Chinese
“color” in Chinese is色
The character 色 (sè) primarily means 'color' and is used to describe hues, shades, and appearances. It can also refer to aspects of beauty and physical appearance, as well as having a connotation related to sex or gender in certain contexts.
When to use 色
Learners often confuse 色 with other characters related to appearance, such as 颜 (yán) for 'face.' In informal contexts, 色 can also imply sexuality, so be cautious with its usage in mixed company. Common collocations include 色彩 (sècǎi, 'colorful') and 色调 (sèdiào, 'shade').
色 or something close to it
颜色 (yánsè) vs 色彩 (sècǎi) — use 色 (sè) for general references to color, while 颜色 (yánsè) emphasizes the specific hue and 色彩 (sècǎi) focuses on the artistic or aesthetic aspects of color.
What learners get wrong
Learners may incorrectly use 色 to mean 'face' instead of 颜 (yán), as in saying 色的 (sè de) instead of 颜的 (yán de) when describing someone's face. Always ensure you are using the right word based on context.
Write 色
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Practice writing 色 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 色
色 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 6 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.
Complete the Sentence
我要红____的。
I want the red one.
Example Sentences for 色 (10)
Word Family of 色
Compound Meaning
What does 绝 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 色
色 (sè) means 'color' in a general sense, while 颜色 (yánsè) specifically refers to 'color' as a noun, often used to describe shades more formally.
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