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靛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
靛diànindigo, blue dyeb, 16 strokes, radical 青, rank #84131, Very Hard
靛diànindigo pigmentunknown, 16 strokes, radical 青, rank #84131, Very Hard
diàn(dian4)dian T4
  1. 1indigo, blue dye
  2. 2indigo pigment
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March 24, 2026

靛diàn(dian4)

The character 靛 (diàn) refers to indigo, a deep blue dye traditionally used in fabric and art. It is often associated with the color derived from indigo plants and has historical significance in dyeing techniques, particularly in Chinese textiles.

Strokes16Radical青Frequency#84131DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, indigo dyeing has a rich history, especially in regions like Jiangxi, where traditional methods have been passed down through generations, resulting in unique textile patterns and styles.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant indigo sea (diàn) where the waves are made of blue dye. The character's top part resembles a 'roof' (亠) sheltering the 'blue waves' (青) underneath, helping you recall that it relates to the color blue.

Meanings of 靛

diàn(dian4)
1indigo, blue dye
2indigo pigment
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 靛 means.

About 靛

靛Simplified
16Strokes
青Radical
区别词distinguishing word (dist.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 靛

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Podcast: 靛

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AI study notes for 靛

Usage Notes

靛 (diàn) is often used in discussions about traditional Chinese dyeing methods or artistic contexts. Be cautious not to confuse it with other colors; for example, the character for blue (蓝, lán) is different. Use the term in both formal and informal settings when discussing colors or dyes.

HSK Study Tips

Though 靛 (diàn) is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other color-related words at the same level. Students should focus on recognizing this character in the context of discussions about art or fashion to reinforce their understanding of colors.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 靛 (diàn) with 蓝 (lán) when speaking about colors. For example, saying '我喜欢靛' (I like blue) instead of '我喜欢蓝' (I like blue) highlights this error. Always remember that 靛 specifically refers to indigo.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 靛

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Etymology of 靛

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

blue

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

Origin

靛 = 青 + 定. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 靛

IDS Structure⿰青定
靛Full character
=
青Qing1
left
定ding4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 靛?

How to say indigo, blue dye in Chinese

“indigo, blue dye” in Chinese is靛diàn

The character 靛 (diàn) refers to indigo, a deep blue dye traditionally used in fabric and art. It is often associated with the color derived from indigo plants and has historical significance in dyeing techniques, particularly in Chinese textiles.

When to use 靛

靛 (diàn) is often used in discussions about traditional Chinese dyeing methods or artistic contexts. Be cautious not to confuse it with other colors; for example, the character for blue (蓝, lán) is different. Use the term in both formal and informal settings when discussing colors or dyes.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 靛 (diàn) with 蓝 (lán) when speaking about colors. For example, saying '我喜欢靛' (I like blue) instead of '我喜欢蓝' (I like blue) highlights this error. Always remember that 靛 specifically refers to indigo.

Write 靛

靛

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

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Grammar patterns of 靛

靛 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

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

她的前额纹着____青色的刺青。

Indigo tattoos adorn her forehead.

Example sentences for 靛 (1)

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1
她的前额纹着靛青色的刺青。

tā de qián é wén zhe diàn qīng sè de cì qīng。

Indigo tattoos adorn her forehead.

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Word Family of 靛

Words containing this character4
靛diànindigo pigment
靛蓝indigo (dye)靛藍
靛青indigo
蓝靛indigo藍靛
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 靛

What does 靛蓝 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 靛

Indigo represents harmony and balance in Chinese culture and has historical ties to craftsmanship in textiles.

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