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黑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
黑
hēi
black
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 黑, rank #697, Hard
黑
hēi
dark
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 黑, rank #697, Hard
黑
hēi
sinister
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 黑, rank #697, Hard
黑
hēi
secret
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 黑, rank #697, Hard
黑
hēi
shady
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 黑, rank #697, Hard
黑
hēi
illegal
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 黑, rank #697, Hard
黑
hēi
(loanword) to hack (computing)
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 黑, rank #697, Hard
黑
hēi
black; dark; evil, sinister
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 黑, rank #697, Hard
黑
hēi
to hide (sth) away
HSK 5, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 黑, rank #697, Hard
黑
hēi
to vilify
HSK 5, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 黑, rank #697, Hard
黑
hēi
abbr. for Heilongjiang province 黑龍江
HSK 5, a, 12 strokes, radical 黑, rank #697, Hard
黑
hēi
abbr. for Heilongjiang province 黑龍江|黑龙江[Hei1 long2 jiang1]
HSK 5, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 黑, rank #697, Hard
hēi(hei1)hei T1
1black
2dark
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March 24, 2026
黑hēi(hei1)
The character 黑 (hēi) primarily means 'black' or 'dark.' It is commonly used to describe colors, but it can also convey negative connotations such as 'sinister' or 'shady.' In various contexts, it may refer to illegal activities or secrecy.
Strokes12Radical黑Frequency#697DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, black can symbolize power and authority but also danger and negativity. It is often associated with mourning and is viewed differently than in many Western contexts, where black is commonly seen as stylish or elegant.
Memory tip
Imagine a black cat sneaking through the night. The character 黑 looks like a cat's tail curling upwards, suggesting the stealthiness associated with darkness. Remember 'hēi' sounds like 'hey,' as if you are calling out to the cat in the dark.
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AI study notes for 黑
Quick Contrast
黑 (hēi) vs 暗 (àn) — use 黑 when referring to the color black or its connotations, while 暗 emphasizes low light or lack of brightness.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 黑 with other similar characters like 赫 (hè) which means 'bright.' While 黑 can be used informally, in formal contexts, it is often better to use it in phrases rather than alone. Common collocations include 黑暗 (hēi'àn - dark) and 黑市 (hēishì - black market).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 黑 connects well with other color words like 红 (hóng - red) and 白 (bái - white). Focus on using it in descriptive sentences and familiarize yourself with common phrases that include this character.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 黑 (hēi) with 绿 (lǜ - green) or 亮 (liàng - bright). For example, saying '我喜欢黑颜色' (Wǒ xǐhuān hēi yánsè - I like black color) is correct, but saying '我喜欢黑亮' is incorrect; instead, use '亮黑色' to mean 'shiny black.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 黑
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Learning Lab
Knowing 黑 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
Pictograph of a person whose face has been tattooed. In ancient China criminals were punished by having their faces permanently marked. Later writers reanalyzed the character as a chimney being blackened by fire, so the bottom component was changed to loo
The character 黑 (hēi) primarily means 'black' or 'dark.' It is commonly used to describe colors, but it can also convey negative connotations such as 'sinister' or 'shady.' In various contexts, it may refer to illegal activities or secrecy.
When to use 黑
Be careful not to confuse 黑 with other similar characters like 赫 (hè) which means 'bright.' While 黑 can be used informally, in formal contexts, it is often better to use it in phrases rather than alone. Common collocations include 黑暗 (hēi'àn - dark) and 黑市 (hēishì - black market).
黑 or something close to it
黑 (hēi) vs 暗 (àn) — use 黑 when referring to the color black or its connotations, while 暗 emphasizes low light or lack of brightness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 黑 (hēi) with 绿 (lǜ - green) or 亮 (liàng - bright). For example, saying '我喜欢黑颜色' (Wǒ xǐhuān hēi yánsè - I like black color) is correct, but saying '我喜欢黑亮' is incorrect; instead, use '亮黑色' to mean 'shiny black.'
Write 黑
黑
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Practice writing 黑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 黑
黑 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 12 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.
