Featured image for 紫 zǐ Dictionary entry displaying the word's hanzi, pinyin and the Mandarin Temple logo and tagline.

Pronunciation

To complete this step you need to listen to the audio pronunciation of the word once.

Meaning

Learn the Pinyin Pronunciation and 6 English Translations of the word .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

Pīnyīn Pronunciation
zǐ | zi3
English translation
purple
violet
amethyst
Lithospermum erythrorhizon (flowering plant whose root provides red purple dye)
Japanese: murasaki
purple, violet; amethyst; surname

Learn the Chinese word in 8 easy steps:

1
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the first learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
2
Unlocks in 48h after completing the first learning phase.
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the second learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
3
Unlocks in 7 days after completing the second learning phase.
Start completing the learning steps to receive the bonus.
You have completed 4/7 steps. Keep going!
Congratulations! You have completed the second learning sequence for this character.
Temple Coins Received
0
Slide 1 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Slide 2 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Slide 3 Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

About

Read some general information about the Chinese word .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down..

Number of strokes

12

Traditional form

Contains the radical

Part of speech

Noun / 名词 míng cí Míngcí

Learning hint

silk

Etymology of

Familiarize yourself with the origin and historical aspects of the Chinese word .

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down..

Type

pictophonetic

Positional decomposition

此糸

Semantic compound

Phonetic compound

Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Write it!

Practice your Chinese writing skills and learn precisely where and when to draw every stroke of the
Chinese word .
     Press the Show Strokes button to see the strokes and their order and hit Start Drawing when you are
ready to practice.

To complete this step you need to write the word once.

Spread the word

Example sentences using

Broaden your vocabulary by interacting with 5 audio-assisted sentences using the Chinese word in different contexts.

To complete this step you need to listen to each of the five Chinese sentences at least once. and scroll down.

作品 zuòpǐn shì 微妙 wēi miào de , 冷僻 lěng pì de , 幻想 huànxiǎng de dài biān de 雪景.

The work was subtle, remote, fanciful - a snow scene with purple edges.

叶绿体 yè lǜ tǐ de tào yǒu 黄质的淡黄色 huáng sè .

The chloroplast envelope has the light yellow color of violaxanthin.

紫苏 zǐ sū Chéng 碎片 suì piàn Jiā dào 调料 tiáoliào .

Tear fresh basil into pieces and add it to the sauce.

菲利浦 biē zhù 大笑 dà xiào 起来 qǐlai , 可是 kěshì 普赖斯小姐 xiǎojie de liǎn què le .

Philip was obliged to laugh, but Miss Price grew darkly red with anger.

真的 Lěng 全身 quán shēn Qīng .

She was literally blue with cold.

Words with

Explore 23 words and sayings that include the Chinese character in their composition.

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

FrequencySimplifiedMeaningTraditional
purple
紫色 zǐ sè purple紫色 zǐ sè
紫外线 zǐ wài xiàn ultraviolet ray紫外線
紫藤 zǐ téng wisteria紫藤 zǐ téng
紫罗兰 zǐ luó lán violet (botany)紫羅蘭
紫红色 zǐ hóng sè red-purple紫紅色
大红大紫 dà hóng dà zǐ to hit the big time大紅大紫
紫菜 zǐ cài Japanese: nori紫菜 zǐ cài
酱紫 jiàng zǐ dark reddish purple醬紫
赵紫阳 Zhào Zǐ yáng 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 Zǐ jìn chéng the Forbidden City紫禁城 Zǐ jìn chéng
紫金 Zǐ jīn Zijin county in Heyuan 河源 Hé yuán [Hé​yuán], Guangdong紫金 Zǐ jīn
紫荆 zǐ jīng Chinese redbud (Cercis chinensis)紫荊
紫薇 zǐ wēi crape myrtle紫薇 zǐ wēi
紫丁香 zǐ dīng xiāng lilac紫丁香 zǐ dīng xiāng
青紫 qīng zǐ purple青紫 qīng zǐ
紫外 zǐ wài ultraviolet (ray)紫外 zǐ wài
紫苏 zǐ sū shiso紫蘇
紫檀 zǐ tán red sandalwood紫檀 zǐ tán
紫金山 Zǐ jīn Shān Purple Mountain in suburbs of Nanjing, with Ming tombs and Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum紫金山 Zǐ jīn Shān
万紫千红 wàn zǐ qiān hóng fig. a profusion of flourishing trades萬紫千紅
紫水晶 zǐ shuǐ jīng amethyst紫水晶 zǐ shuǐ jīng
紫外光 zǐ wài guāng ultraviolet light紫外光 zǐ wài guāng

Decomposition & Compounds

To complete this step you need to read and scroll down.

Decomposition

See the 4 Chinese characters that make up and their own compounds.

Compounds

See all 1 Chinese words that contain the character in their composition.

Recommended Books for Learning Mandarin Chinese

AMAZON BOOKSHELF

AMAZON BOOKSHELF

A Boy and his Dragon

Once upon a time, a Little Boy was living in a village near the woods. One day, a Dragon came out of the cave secluded in the middle of the forest and began to relentlessly follow the Little Boy, always breathing on the back of his neck, burning the young boy at his slightest misstep.

The child received refuge in an old Temple where there were no mirrors allowed, and it was forbidden to speak of life before entering the sanctum. Ancient books, hidden rooms with unimaginable treasures and beauty beyond comprehension, became part of the boy’s new life.

Time went by until, one day, the now old young boy accidentally glimpses his own reflection in a pond. The Dragon smiled back.

Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.

Copyright © 2022 Mandarin Temple. All rights reserved.

Scroll to Top