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色彩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
色彩
sècǎi
tint
HSK 5, n, 17 strokes, rank #6996, Hard
色彩
sècǎi
coloring
HSK 5, n, 17 strokes, rank #6996, Hard
色彩
sècǎi
coloration
HSK 5, n, 17 strokes, rank #6996, Hard
色彩
sècǎi
character
HSK 5, n, 17 strokes, rank #6996, Hard
色彩
sècǎi
(fig.) flavor
HSK 5, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #6996, Hard
sècǎi(se4cai3)se cai T4
1tint
2coloring
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
色彩sècǎi(se4cai3)
色彩 (sè cǎi) refers to the variety of colors or hues, often used in contexts related to art, design, and aesthetics. It can also metaphorically describe the 'flavor' or 'character' of something, such as a person's personality or a cultural feature.
Strokes17Frequency#6996DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, color symbolism is deeply rooted, with different colors representing various emotions and cultural meanings; for instance, red is associated with happiness and festivals. Thus, 色彩 is not just about visual aspects but also about cultural significance.
Memory tip
Imagine a vibrant rainbow (色) where each color (彩) tells a different story. Picture a painter with a palette of colors, each hue representing a different 'flavor' of emotion, helping you remember that 色彩 is all about the richness and diversity of color.
Meanings of 色彩
sècǎi(se4cai3)
1tint
2coloring
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 色彩 means.
About 色彩
色彩Simplified
17Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6996Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 色彩
Podcast: 色彩
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AI study notes for 色彩
Quick Contrast
色调 (sèdiào) refers specifically to the tone or shade of a color, while 色彩 (sècǎi) encompasses a broader range of colors and their variety.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 色彩 with just 'color' (颜色 yánsè), as 色彩 often implies a broader range of tones and emotional depth. It is typically used in more artistic or descriptive contexts, so maintain a formal register when discussing art or aesthetics.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 5, this word connects with other vocabulary related to art and description, such as 颜色 (color) and 明亮 (bright). Focus on understanding its metaphorical uses to enhance your expressive language skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 色彩 with 颜色 (color), using them interchangeably without recognizing that 色彩 implies a broader range of tones and emotional depth. For example, saying '我喜欢颜色的色彩' is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我喜欢色彩的丰富性'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 色彩
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How well do you know 色彩?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 色彩 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.
色彩 (sè cǎi) refers to the variety of colors or hues, often used in contexts related to art, design, and aesthetics. It can also metaphorically describe the 'flavor' or 'character' of something, such as a person's personality or a cultural feature.
When to use 色彩
Be careful not to confuse 色彩 with just 'color' (颜色 yánsè), as 色彩 often implies a broader range of tones and emotional depth. It is typically used in more artistic or descriptive contexts, so maintain a formal register when discussing art or aesthetics.
色彩 or something close to it
色调 (sèdiào) refers specifically to the tone or shade of a color, while 色彩 (sècǎi) encompasses a broader range of colors and their variety.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 色彩 with 颜色 (color), using them interchangeably without recognizing that 色彩 implies a broader range of tones and emotional depth. For example, saying '我喜欢颜色的色彩' is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我喜欢色彩的丰富性'.
Write 色彩
色
彩
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Practice writing 色彩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 色彩
色彩 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 5 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
设置这门课程是为了指导学生如何运用____和构图。
The course is designed to help students with colour and composition.
