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青 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
青qīnggreen or blueHSK 5, ns, 8 strokes, radical 青, rank #3715, Hard
青qīngabbr. for 青海[Qīng hǎi], Qinghai ProvinceHSK 5, ns, 8 strokes, radical 青, rank #3715, Hard
青qīngnature's colorHSK 5, ns, 8 strokes, radical 青, rank #3715, Hard
青qīnggreenish blackHSK 5, ns, 8 strokes, radical 青, rank #3715, Hard
青qīngyouthHSK 5, ns, 8 strokes, radical 青, rank #3715, Hard
青qīngyoung (of people)HSK 5, ns, 8 strokes, radical 青, rank #3715, Hard
青qīngnature's color; blue, green, black; youngHSK 5, ns, 8 strokes, radical 青, rank #3715, Hard
青qīngabbr. for 青海[Qing1 hai3], Qinghai ProvinceHSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 青, rank #3715, Hard
qīng(qing1) T1
  1. 1green or blue
  2. 2abbr. for 青海[Qīng hǎi], Qinghai Province
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

青qīng(qing1)

The character 青 (qīng) primarily denotes colors such as blue and green, and can also refer to youth or young people. It's commonly used in contexts related to nature, as well as in expressions that evoke freshness and vitality. This character captures the essence of youthfulness and the vibrant colors of nature.

Strokes8Radical青Frequency#3715DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

青 is often associated with Chinese concepts of nature and harmony, reflecting the importance of the natural world in Chinese culture. It appears in phrases like 青山绿水, which emphasizes the beauty of green mountains and clear waters.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fresh green field under a clear blue sky, symbolizing both youth and nature. The character 青 resembles a plant growing upwards, representing vitality and growth, while the 'q' sound in qīng can remind you of a quick breeze passing through a young forest.

Meanings of 青

qīng(qing1)
1green or blue
2abbr. for 青海[Qīng hǎi], Qinghai Province
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 青

青Simplified
8Strokes
青Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3715Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 青

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Podcast: 青

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AI Study Notes for 青

Quick Contrast

青 (qīng) vs 蓝 (lán) — use 青 for a broader range of blue-green hues and youthfulness, while 蓝 specifically refers to blue.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a fresh green field under a clear blue sky, symbolizing both youth and nature. The character 青 resembles a plant growing upwards, representing vitality and growth, while the 'q' sound in qīng can remind you of a quick breeze passing through a young forest.

Usage Notes

青 can sometimes be confused with the characters for other colors. In informal contexts, it can represent youth, but in formal settings, it may be more appropriate to use 年轻 (niánqīng) for 'young'. Be mindful of tone, as using the wrong tone can change its meaning.

HSK Study Tips

As a level 5 HSK word, 青 connects well with other color-related vocabulary and words describing age. Students should focus on its usage in different contexts and practice its various meanings to enhance comprehension.

Cultural Note

青 is often associated with Chinese concepts of nature and harmony, reflecting the importance of the natural world in Chinese culture. It appears in phrases like 青山绿水, which emphasizes the beauty of green mountains and clear waters.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 青 with other color characters like 绿 (lǜ, green) or 蓝 (lán, blue). For example, saying 青色 (qīngsè) when referring specifically to 'green' can be misleading; instead, use 绿色 (lǜsè).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 青

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Etymology of 青

Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 生 represents the meaning and 井 represents the sound.

Learn more about character formation (六书)
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 青?

Decomposition of 青

IDS Structure⿱龶月
青Full Character
=
龶xx5
top
月yue4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 青?

Write 青

青

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

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Grammar Patterns of 青

青 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 8 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.

Related grammar lessons3
Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

一般来说，跟____年人相比，老年人的经验更丰富。

Generally speaking, compared to young people, older people have richer experience.

Common Confusions with 青

青vs清
qīng

Similar pronunciation and structure, but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "green or blue"?

or

Example Sentences for 青 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我让马低下头啃吃春天的青草。

wǒ ràng mǎ dī xià tóu kěn chī chūn tiān de qīng cǎo。

I let the horse drop his head to crop the spring grass.
2
壁炉台上是一对明代的青铜花瓶。

bì lú tái shàng shì yī duì míng dài de qīng tóng huā píng。

On the mantelpiece are a pair of bronze Ming vases.
3
从许多方面来说，表演无疑是吃青春饭的行当。

cóng xǔ duō fāng miàn lái shuō， ， biǎo yǎn wú yí shì chī qīng chūn fàn de háng。

Acting is definitely a young person's profession in many ways.
4
他们的休闲服系列瞄准的是追求时髦的13到25岁青少年。

tā mén de xiū xián fú xì liè miáo zhǔn de shì zhuī qiú shí máo de13 1325 dào 25 suì qīng。

Their range of leisurewear is aimed at fashion-conscious 13 to 25 year-olds.
5
这些花的花蕾是青铜色，开放后呈明黄色。

zhè xiē huā de huā lěi shì qīng tóng sè， ， kāi fàng hòu chéng míng huáng。

The flowers are bronzy in bud and bright yellow when open.
6
这足以让他们的事业平步青云了。

zhè zú yǐ ràng tā mén de shì yè píng bù qīng yún le。

This was enough to launch their careers into the stratosphere.
7
这片潮湿地区也吸引了青蛙、蟾蜍和蝾螈一类的生物。

zhè piàn cháo shī dì qū yě xī yǐn le qīng wā、 、 chán chú hé róng yuán yī lèi de shēng。

This wet area also attracts frogs, toads and newts.
8
一名男青年从陡峭的岩壁上坠崖身亡。

yī míng nán qīng nián cóng dǒu qiào de yán bì shàng zhuì yá shēn wáng。

A young man plunged from a sheer rock face to his death.
9
警方逮捕了与其中一次袭击有关的5名青年男子。

jǐng fāng dài bǔ le yǔ qí zhōng yī cì xí jī yǒu guān de5 5 míng qīng nián nán。

Police arrested five young men in connection with one of the attacks.
10
他朝他的兄弟吼叫，脖子上青筋暴突。

tā zhāo tā de xiōng dì hǒu jiào， ， bó zǐ shàng qīng jīn bào。

He shouted at his brother, his neck veins bulging.

Cultural Notes for 青

🏮Cultural insight

青 is often associated with Chinese concepts of nature and harmony, reflecting the importance of the natural world in Chinese culture. It appears in phrases like 青山绿水, which emphasizes the beauty of green mountains and clear waters.

Word Family of 青

Compounds18
情qing2feeling
请qing3to ask
清Qing1Qing or Ch'ing dynasty of Imperial China (1644-1911)
精jing1essence
猜cai1to guess
睛jing1eye
晴qing2clear
氰qing2cyanogen; ethane dinitrile
倩qian4beautiful, lovely; son-in-law
鲭qing1mackerel
菁jing1turnip; a flower of the leek family
箐qing4to draw a bamboo bow
腈jing1acrylic
圊qing1restroom
婧jing4modest; supple
锖qiang1the color of a mineral
鼱jing1shrew
鯖qing1mackerel
Words Containing This Character20
青年qīngniányouth
青qīngyouth
青少年qīngshàoniánadolescent
青春qīngchūnyouth
青蛙qīngwāfrog
青岛Qingdao, subprovincial city in Shandong青島
青春期qīngchūnqīpuberty
青睐favor青睞
年青youthful
沥青asphalt瀝青
青山Qingshan district of Wuhan city 武漢市|武汉市[Wǔ​hàn​shì], Hubei
青海Qinghai province (Tsinghai) in west China, abbr. 青, capital Xining 西寧|西宁
青霉素penicillin
青菜green vegetables
青藏Qinghai and Tibet
青年人young person
青铜bronze (alloy of copper 銅|铜 and tin 錫|锡[xī])青銅
青梅竹马childhood sweethearts青梅竹馬
青光眼glaucoma
共青团the Communist Youth League, abbr. for 共產主義青年團|共产主义青年团[Gòng​chǎn​zhǔ​yì​Qīng​nián​tuán]共青團
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 情 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 青

青 (qīng) and 绿 (lǜ) both relate to colors, but 青 can refer to both blue and green, while 绿 specifically means 'green.' In certain contexts, 青 may also imply a deeper or darker shade, whereas 绿 is more straightforwardly associated with the color of grass and leaves.