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黑色 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
黑色hēisèblackHSK 2, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #2380, Easy
hēisè(hei1se4)hei se T1
  1. 1black
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March 24, 2026

黑色hēisè(hei1se4)

黑色 (hēi sè) means 'black' in Mandarin, referring to the color that absorbs all light. Commonly used to describe objects, clothing, or emotions, it conveys a sense of darkness and is often associated with elegance or negativity in various contexts.

Strokes18Frequency#2380DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, black is often associated with mystery and the unknown, but it can also represent power and sophistication, especially in fashion. For instance, wearing black at formal events is common and signifies elegance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a black cat in a dark room; the character 黑 (hēi) resembles a cat's head with ears pointing up, and the bottom part might remind you of its tail. The word '黑' sounds like 'hey,' as if you're calling the cat to come out of the shadows.

Meanings of 黑色

hēisè(hei1se4)
1black
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About 黑色

黑色Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 黑色

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Podcast: 黑色

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AI Study Notes for 黑色

Quick Contrast

黑 (hēi) refers specifically to the color black, while 黑暗 (hēi'àn) means darkness or obscurity; use 黑色 when specifically describing the color of an object.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 黑色, as it can carry different emotional connotations. For example, saying '我喜欢黑色' (I like black) is neutral, but in phrases like '黑暗' (darkness), it may imply negativity. Also, remember that colors in Mandarin are typically used as adjectives before nouns.

HSK Study Tips

While 黑色 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it is fundamental for beginners to learn colors and adjectives. Students should practice using it in sentences to describe various objects, enhancing their vocabulary and understanding of sentence structure.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse the pronunciation of 黑 (hēi) with other similar sounds. For example, saying 'hái' instead of 'hēi' can lead to misunderstanding. Always remember that 黑 is pronounced with a high and level tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 黑色

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Component Characters

黑hēiblack
HSK 512 strokes黑
View full entry
色sècolor
HSK 46 strokes色
View full entry

How to say black in Chinese

“black” in Chinese is黑色hēisè

黑色 (hēi sè) means 'black' in Mandarin, referring to the color that absorbs all light. Commonly used to describe objects, clothing, or emotions, it conveys a sense of darkness and is often associated with elegance or negativity in various contexts.

When to use 黑色

Be mindful of the context when using 黑色, as it can carry different emotional connotations. For example, saying '我喜欢黑色' (I like black) is neutral, but in phrases like '黑暗' (darkness), it may imply negativity. Also, remember that colors in Mandarin are typically used as adjectives before nouns.

黑色 or something close to it

黑 (hēi) refers specifically to the color black, while 黑暗 (hēi'àn) means darkness or obscurity; use 黑色 when specifically describing the color of an object.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse the pronunciation of 黑 (hēi) with other similar sounds. For example, saying 'hái' instead of 'hēi' can lead to misunderstanding. Always remember that 黑 is pronounced with a high and level tone.

Write 黑色

黑
色

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 黑色

You can say '我喜欢黑色的衣服' (I like black clothes) to describe your preference.

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