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灰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
灰huīashHSK 5, n, 6 strokes, radical 火, rank #3279, Hard
灰huīdustHSK 5, n, 6 strokes, radical 火, rank #3279, Hard
灰huīlimeHSK 5, n, 6 strokes, radical 火, rank #3279, Hard
灰huīgrayHSK 5, n, 6 strokes, radical 火, rank #3279, Hard
灰huīdiscouragedHSK 5, n, 6 strokes, radical 火, rank #3279, Hard
灰huīdejectedHSK 5, n, 6 strokes, radical 火, rank #3279, Hard
灰huīashes; dust; lime, mortarHSK 5, n, 6 strokes, radical 火, rank #3279, Hard
huī(hui1) T1
  1. 1ash
  2. 2dust
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

灰huī(hui1)

The character 灰 (huī) primarily means 'ash' or 'dust' and can also refer to the color 'gray.' It is commonly used in contexts related to remnants of fire, such as after burning wood or incense. Additionally, it can convey a sense of being discouraged or dejected, reflecting emotional states.

Strokes6Radical火Frequency#3279DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, ash (灰) can symbolize the remnants of life and impermanence, reflecting philosophical ideas found in Taoism and Buddhism about the nature of existence. The color gray often represents neutrality and a sense of calm in art and design.

Memory Tip

Imagine a gray cloud of ash floating in the air after a campfire. The top of the character 灰 resembles a fire, while the bottom part depicts something falling—like ash settling down. This visual can help you remember both the meaning (ash) and the pronunciation (huī).

Meanings of 灰

huī(hui1)
1ash
2dust
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 灰

灰Simplified
6Strokes
火Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#3279Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 灰

JasonAmy

Podcast: 灰

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 灰

Quick Contrast

灰 (huī) vs 煤 (méi) — use 灰 for ash or gray color, while 煤 refers specifically to coal.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a gray cloud of ash floating in the air after a campfire. The top of the character 灰 resembles a fire, while the bottom part depicts something falling—like ash settling down. This visual can help you remember both the meaning (ash) and the pronunciation (huī).

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 灰 (huī) with similar-sounding words that have different meanings, such as 回 (huí), which means 'to return.' It's generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but when discussing emotions, it may lean towards more informal speech. Common collocations include 灰烬 (huī jìn, 'embers') and 灰心 (huī xīn, 'discouraged').

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 灰 connects well with other words related to colors and emotions, such as 黑 (hēi, 'black') and 感到 (gǎndào, 'to feel'). Focus on practicing its pronunciation and usage in sentences describing feelings or the aftermath of a fire.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, ash (灰) can symbolize the remnants of life and impermanence, reflecting philosophical ideas found in Taoism and Buddhism about the nature of existence. The color gray often represents neutrality and a sense of calm in art and design.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 灰 (huī) with 界 (jiè), leading to incorrect phrases such as 灰心界 (huī xīn jiè) instead of 灰心 (huī xīn). Always remember that 灰 is specifically related to ash and emotions, while 界 pertains to boundaries or realms.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 灰

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Etymology of 灰

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

After a fire (火) burns down, the left over ash (灰) can be touched with the hands (又).

Memory Hint

The remains of a fire 火; 火 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 灰?

Decomposition of 灰

IDS Structure⿸？火
灰Full Character
=
火Huo3
enclosing
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 灰?

Write 灰

灰

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 灰

灰 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 7 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

我见到过这个身着____色套装的英俊男士。

I saw this nice-looking man in a gray suit.

Common Confusions with 灰

灰vs会
huì

Similar pronunciation but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "ash"?

or

Usage Notes for 灰

Mixing up 灰 with other colorsCommon Error

Learners may confuse 灰 with other color terms like 黑 (black) or 白 (white).

1

灰色的天空

Gray sky

2

我喜欢黑色，而不是灰色。

I like black, not gray.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

____色的天空

Gray sky

Example Sentences for 灰 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我见到过这个身着灰色套装的英俊男士。

wǒ jiàn dào guò zhè gè shēn zháo huī sè tào zhuāng de yīng jùn nán shì。

I saw this nice-looking man in a gray suit.
2
我毕业后可以不费吹灰之力地找到任何工作。

wǒ bì yè hòu kě yǐ bù fèi chuī huī zhī lì dì zhǎo dào rèn hé gōng zuò。

When I left school, I could walk into any job.
3
他因这番尖锐的批评而万念俱灰，茫然不知所措。

tā yīn zhè fān jiān ruì de pī píng ér wàn niàn jù huī， ， máng rán bù zhī suǒ。

He was shattered and bewildered by this trenchant criticism.
4
这座楼完全是现代主义风格：采用玻璃和铝质材料，以灰色作为基调。

zhè zuò lóu wán quán shì xiàn dài zhǔ yì fēng gé： ： cǎi yòng bō lí hé lǚ zhì cái， liào ， yǐ huī sè zuò wéi。

The building is impeccably modernist: glass, aluminium and grey.
5
陆地在地平线处变成了一片浅灰。

lù dì zài dì píng xiàn chǔ biàn chéng le yī piàn qiǎn huī。

At the horizon the land mass becomes a continuous pale neutral grey.
6
他在衬衫外面套了一件浅灰色西装。

tā zài chèn shān wài miàn tào le yī jiàn qiǎn huī sè xī zhuāng。

He was wearing a light-grey suit over a shirt.
7
他的脸失去了血色，变得一片死灰。

tā de liǎn shī qù le xiě sè， ， biàn dé yī piàn sǐ。

The blood drained from his face, leaving the skin dead white.
8
灯光照在满是灰尘的墙上，反射回苍白的冷光。

dēng guāng zhào zài mǎn shì huī chén de qiáng shàng， ， fǎn shè huí cāng bái de lěng。

Lights reflected off dust-covered walls creating a ghostly luminescence.
9
那里每年秋天有2,000头灰色小海豹出生。

nà lǐ měi nián qiū tiān yǒu2,000 2,000 tóu huī sè xiǎo hǎi bào chū。

Two thousand grey seal pups are born there every autumn.
10
他是个瘦高个，头发灰白。

tā shì gè shòu gāo gè， ， tóu fā huī。

He was a tall, thin man with grey hair.

Cultural Notes for 灰

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, ash (灰) can symbolize the remnants of life and impermanence, reflecting philosophical ideas found in Taoism and Buddhism about the nature of existence. The color gray often represents neutrality and a sense of calm in art and design.

Word Family of 灰

Compounds10
恢hui1to restore
盔kui1helmet; bowl, basin
炭tan4wood charcoal
诙hui1to tease, to joke with; to ridicule, to mock
咴hui1to neigh, to whinny
拻
洃
烣
脄
詼hui1to tease, to joke with; to ridicule, to mock
Words Containing This Character20
灰huīash
灰色huīsègray
骨灰bone ash
灰尘huīchéndust灰塵
灰姑娘Cinderella
灰烬ashes灰燼
烟灰缸ashtray煙灰缸
灰心huīxīnto lose heart
石灰lime (calcium oxide)
灰暗drab
灰白colored
灰飞烟灭fig. to be annihilated灰飛煙滅
骨灰盒box for bone ashes
心灰意冷discouraged
烟灰cigarette ash煙灰
炮灰cannon fodder
死灰复燃sth malevolent returns to haunt one死灰復燃
石灰石limestone
灰溜溜dull gray
灰蒙蒙dusky
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 恢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 灰

Common expressions include 灰心 (huī xīn, 'to feel discouraged') and 灰烬 (huī jìn, 'ashes').