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March 24, 2026
黛dài(dai4)
The character 黛 (dài) primarily refers to a black or dark color, often associated with the traditional practice of blackening one's eyebrows in Chinese culture. It is also used to denote umber-black dye used in cosmetics, particularly in the context of enhancing beauty in a historical and cultural sense.
Strokes17Radical黑Frequency#6051DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, blackened eyebrows were seen as a symbol of beauty and elegance, often featured in classical literature and art. This practice connects to the broader theme of beauty standards in ancient China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dark, mysterious night sky where 'dai' sounds like 'die' in English, but instead, it brings beauty by enhancing eyebrows. The character 黛 comprises the radical 黒 (black) which visually represents the color, reminding you of the deep, rich color it signifies.
Meanings of 黛
dài(dai4)
1to blacken one's eyebrows; black
2umber-black dye for painting the eyebrow
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 黛
黛Simplified
17Strokes
黑Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 黛
Podcast: 黛
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AI Study Notes for 黛
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a dark, mysterious night sky where 'dai' sounds like 'die' in English, but instead, it brings beauty by enhancing eyebrows. The character 黛 comprises the radical 黒 (black) which visually represents the color, reminding you of the deep, rich color it signifies.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 黛 (dài) with other similar-sounding characters, such as '代' (dài) which means 'to replace.' It's important to use this word in contexts related to beauty or cosmetics, as it is not commonly used in formal or everyday conversation without this context.
HSK Study Tips
While 黛 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it enriches your understanding of colors and beauty-related terms. Focus on its pronunciation and connections to other color-related words to expand your vocabulary effectively.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, blackened eyebrows were seen as a symbol of beauty and elegance, often featured in classical literature and art. This practice connects to the broader theme of beauty standards in ancient China.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 黛 (dài) with similar characters like '代' (dài), leading to incorrect usage in contexts unrelated to beauty. For example, using 黛 to mean 'replace' is incorrect; the correct character for that is 代.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 黛
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Grammar Patterns of 黛
黛 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 2 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
Complete the Sentence
我相信他肯定非常担心____安娜。
I believe he is most painfully anxious about Diana.
I believe he is most painfully anxious about Diana.
2
黛西说她傻乎乎的，但心肠很好。
dài xī shuō tā shǎ hū hū de， ， dàn xīn cháng hěn。
Daisy called her daffy, but goodhearted.
3
黛安娜曾走过那条路。
dài ān nà zēng zǒu guò nà tiáo lù。
Diana had taken that path once.
4
他近距离朝贝尔纳黛特开了枪。
tā jìn jù lí zhāo bèi ěr nà dài tè kāi le qiāng。
He fired point-blank at Bernadette.
5
黛安娜表示她对萨姆的爱永远不会变。
dài ān nà biǎo shì tā duì sà mǔ de ài yǒng yuǎn bù huì biàn。
Dianne declared her undying love for Sam.
6
“是的，”他笑着紧挨黛比坐下。
“ “ shì，” de ，” tā xiào zháo jǐn āi dài bǐ。
"Yes," he laughs, cuddling up to Debbie.
7
黛安娜点燃一根香烟，试图掩饰她的焦躁不安。
dài ān nà diǎn rán yī gēn xiāng yān， ， shì tú yǎn shì tā de jiāo zào bù。
Diane lit a cigarette, trying to mask her agitation.
8
黛比仔细端详了一会她朋友的脸.
dài bǐ zī xì duān xiáng le yī huì tā péng yǒu de liǎn.
Debbie studied her friend's face for a moment.
9
有一次我看见他将一朵玫瑰戴在黛西小姐头上.
yǒu yī cì wǒ kàn jiàn tā jiāng yī duǒ méi guī dài zài dài xī xiǎo jiě tóu shàng.
I see him put a rose on Miss . Daisy's head one day.
10
但是黛西猜到了他的意图.
dàn shì dài xī cāi dào le tā de yì tú.
But Daisy guessed at his intention.
Cultural Notes for 黛
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, blackened eyebrows were seen as a symbol of beauty and elegance, often featured in classical literature and art. This practice connects to the broader theme of beauty standards in ancient China.
Word Family of 黛
Words Containing This Character8
黛dàiumber-black dye for painting the eyebrow
林黛玉Lin Daiyu, female character in The Dream of Red Mansions, cousin and thwarted lover of Jia Baoyu 賈寶玉|贾宝玉
黛安娜Diana (goddess in Roman mythology)
奥黛丽Audrey奧黛麗
粉黛cosmetics
青黛indigo (dye)
奥黛莉Audrey奧黛莉
史黛西Stacy (name)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 黛 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 黛
It is pronounced as 'dài' with a falling tone.
It's not used frequently in everyday conversation but appears in historical and cultural contexts, particularly regarding beauty.
No, 黛 specifically refers to a deep black color, especially in the context of cosmetics.
