Meanings of 黑
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About 黑
Podcast: 黑
Podcast: 黑
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AI Study Notes for 黑
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.
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).
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.
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.'
Pronunciation of 黑
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Etymology of 黑
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
A man's face blacked by soot from a fire 灬
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 黑
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
- 1The giveawayA man's face blacked by soot from a fire 灬
- 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 黑? 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 黑?
Decomposition of 黑
Identify the Components
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How to say black in Chinese
“black” in Chinese is黑
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
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Practice writing 黑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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.
Complete the Sentence
天____了。
It's gotten dark.
Example Sentences for 黑 (10)
Word Family of 黑
Compound Meaning
What does 嘿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 黑
Common phrases include 黑暗 (hēi'àn - darkness) and 黑市 (hēishì - black market).
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