Lithospermum erythrorhizon (flowering plant whose root provides red purple dye)
HSK 5, n, 12 strokes, radical 糸, rank #9045, Hard
紫
zǐ
Japanese: murasaki
HSK 5, n, 12 strokes, radical 糸, rank #9045, Hard
紫
zǐ
purple, violet; amethyst; surname
HSK 5, n, 12 strokes, radical 糸, rank #9045, Hard
zǐ(zi3) T3
1purple
2violet
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March 24, 2026
紫zǐ(zi3)
The character 紫 (zǐ) refers to the color purple or violet, often associated with nobility and luxury in Chinese culture. It can also denote specific plants like Lithospermum erythrorhizon, which is known for providing a purple dye. In various contexts, it appears in phrases relating to beauty, fashion, and aesthetics.
Strokes12Radical糸Frequency#9045DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, purple is often linked to royalty and spirituality, reflecting its historical significance as a color reserved for emperors and high-ranking officials. This cultural backdrop enhances its usage in literature and art.
Memory Tip
Imagine a majestic purple mountain (紫) rising under a violet sky. The character resembles a mountain peak (山) with a royal crown (止) on top, symbolizing the nobility associated with the color purple.
Meanings of 紫
zǐ(zi3)
1purple
2violet
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 紫
紫Simplified
12Strokes
糸Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#9045Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 紫
Podcast: 紫
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AI Study Notes for 紫
Quick Contrast
紫 (zǐ) vs 蓝 (lán) — choose 紫 when referring specifically to purple, while 蓝 denotes blue.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a majestic purple mountain (紫) rising under a violet sky. The character resembles a mountain peak (山) with a royal crown (止) on top, symbolizing the nobility associated with the color purple.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 紫 with other colors like 蓝 (blue) or 红 (red). While it can be used in both formal and informal contexts, it's more common in discussions about art, fashion, or nature. Remember to pronounce it with the third tone (zǐ) to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 紫 connects to other color-related vocabulary and adjectives. Students should focus on the tonal pronunciation and usage in descriptive phrases, as well as practice combining it with other words to form more complex expressions.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, purple is often linked to royalty and spirituality, reflecting its historical significance as a color reserved for emperors and high-ranking officials. This cultural backdrop enhances its usage in literature and art.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly pronounce 紫 as 'zī' instead of 'zǐ', which can lead to confusion with the word '子' (zǐ). Another common error is to use it interchangeably with other color terms; be sure to use it specifically for purple hues.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 紫
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Grammar Patterns of 紫
紫 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 6 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.
All shades of mauve, lilac, lavender and purple were fashionable.
7
略微发紫的大朵蓝花在6月初绽放。
lüè wēi fā zǐ de dà duǒ lán huā zài6 6 yuè chū zhàn。
The large, purplish blue flowers appear in early June.
8
它的大叶子往往带点紫色。
tā de dà yè zǐ wǎng wǎng dài diǎn zǐ sè。
Its large leaves often show a delicate purple tint.
9
“把那个穿紫衬衫的家伙叫过来。”——“好的，老兄。”
“ “ bǎ nà gè chuān zǐ chèn shān de jiā huǒ jiào guò。”——“ lái 。”——“， hǎo de。”
"Get the guy in the purple shirt." — "All right, my man."
10
水冰冷无比，我的手全冻紫了。
shuǐ bīng lěng wú bǐ， ， wǒ de shǒu quán dòng zǐ。
The water was ice cold and my hands were completely blue.
Cultural Notes for 紫
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, purple is often linked to royalty and spirituality, reflecting its historical significance as a color reserved for emperors and high-ranking officials. This cultural backdrop enhances its usage in literature and art.
Word Family of 紫
Compounds1
橴
Words Containing This Character20
紫zǐpurple
紫色purple
紫外线ultraviolet ray紫外線
紫藤wisteria
紫罗兰violet (botany)紫羅蘭
紫红色red-purple紫紅色
大红大紫to hit the big time大紅大紫
紫菜Japanese: nori
酱紫dark reddish purple醬紫
赵紫阳Zhao Ziyang (1919-2005), PRC reforming politician, general secretary of Chinese Communist Party 1987-1989, held under house arrest from 1989 to his death, and non-person since then趙紫陽
紫禁城the Forbidden City
紫金Zijin county in Heyuan 河源[Héyuán], Guangdong
紫荆Chinese redbud (Cercis chinensis)紫荊
紫薇crape myrtle
紫丁香lilac
青紫purple
紫外ultraviolet (ray)
紫苏shiso紫蘇
紫檀red sandalwood
紫金山Purple Mountain in suburbs of Nanjing, with Ming tombs and Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 紫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 紫
Common phrases include 紫色的花 (purple flowers) or 紫罗兰 (violet), which help contextualize its use in everyday conversation.
Yes, it appears in idioms like 紫气东来 (a sign of good fortune), illustrating its positive connotations.
