Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
棕色zōngsè(zong1se4)
棕色 (zōngsè) refers to the color brown, which is commonly associated with natural materials like wood and earth. It is often used in various contexts, such as describing colors of animals, clothing, or objects. The term captures a warm, earthy tone that is prevalent in everyday life.
Strokes18Frequency#4593DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the color brown is often associated with stability and reliability, much like the color of earth. It is frequently seen in traditional Chinese pottery and art, reflecting the importance of nature.
Memory Tip
Imagine a brown bear (棕色) sitting on a wooden log. The bear's fur is the color of wood, linking the character 棕 (zōng) to its meaning of brown. The character has the radical 木 (wood) suggesting its connection to nature.
Meanings of 棕色
zōngsè(zong1se4)
1brown
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 棕色 means.
About 棕色
棕色Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4593Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 棕色
Podcast: 棕色
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 棕色
Quick Contrast
咖啡色 (kāfēisè) - use 棕色 for a more general brown shade, while 咖啡色 specifically refers to coffee brown.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 棕色 with other shades like 咖啡色 (kāfēisè, coffee color) or 黑色 (hēisè, black). It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, often used in describing objects or animals. Be careful with tone; mispronouncing the first or second tone can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, students should focus on using 棕色 in descriptive sentences and practice its usage in contexts like fashion, art, or nature. Connecting it with other color words can enhance vocabulary retention.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 棕色 to describe colors that are not brown, such as using it for gray (灰色, huīsè). Ensure you are using the correct color context when describing objects.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 棕色
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 棕色 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 棕色 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 棕色?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 棕色 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.
棕色 (zōngsè) refers to the color brown, which is commonly associated with natural materials like wood and earth. It is often used in various contexts, such as describing colors of animals, clothing, or objects. The term captures a warm, earthy tone that is prevalent in everyday life.
When to use 棕色
A common mistake is to confuse 棕色 with other shades like 咖啡色 (kāfēisè, coffee color) or 黑色 (hēisè, black). It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, often used in describing objects or animals. Be careful with tone; mispronouncing the first or second tone can change the meaning.
棕色 or something close to it
咖啡色 (kāfēisè) - use 棕色 for a more general brown shade, while 咖啡色 specifically refers to coffee brown.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 棕色 to describe colors that are not brown, such as using it for gray (灰色, huīsè). Ensure you are using the correct color context when describing objects.
Write 棕色
棕
色
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 棕色 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 棕色
棕色 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). 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.
他是个白人，留着____的齐肩发并蓄着小胡子。
He was white, with brown shoulder-length hair and a moustache.
Example Sentences for 棕色 (16)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他是个白人，留着棕色的齐肩发并蓄着小胡子。
tā shì gè bái rén， ， liú zháo zōng sè de qí jiān fā bìng xù zháo xiǎo hú。
He was white, with brown shoulder-length hair and a moustache.
2
她摸着他那浓密的淡棕色胸毛。
tā mō zháo tā nà nóng mì de dàn zōng sè xiōng máo。
She touched the thick mat of sandy hair on his chest.
3
用“户外女孩”品牌的棕色眉笔更加清晰地勾勒出眉形。
yòng“ “ hù wài nǚ” hái ” pǐn pái de zōng sè méi bǐ gēng jiā qīng xī dì gōu lè chū。
Give your brows extra definition with Outdoor Girl'sEyebrow Pencil in Brown.
4
安娜穿着亚麻长袍，衬出其棕色的皮肤，显得十分高贵。
ān nà chuān zháo yà má cháng páo， ， chèn chū qí zōng sè de pí， fū ， xiǎn dé shí fēn。
Anna looked tanned and majestic in her linen caftan.
5
一只棕色的小鹿蹦跳着穿过他们面前的那条小路。
yī zhī zōng sè de xiǎo lù bèng tiào zháo chuān guò tā mén miàn qián de nà tiáo xiǎo lù。
A small brown fawn hopped across the trail in front of them.
6
他的头发又变回原来的淡红棕色。
tā de tóu fā yòu biàn huí yuán lái de dàn hóng zōng sè。
His hair has reverted back to its original copper hue.
