Describing colors is an essential part of daily communication. Understanding how to use vocabulary related to colors in Chinese will help you express yourself more accurately and naturally in conversations. In this article, Ni Hao Ma will introduce you to the vocabulary for describing colors in Chinese to help you communicate more naturally.
Basic Color Vocabulary in Chinese
If you are learning Chinese, mastering color vocabulary will expand your vocabulary and enhance your ability to communicate more naturally and effectively. In Chinese, when you want to describe the color of an object, you can use the following structure:
[Noun + shì 是 + Color]
For example:
- 天空是蓝色的。(Tiānkōng shì lánsè de.) → The sky is blue.
- 苹果是红色的。(Píngguǒ shì hóngsè de.) → The apple is red.
- 我的车是黑色的。(Wǒ de chē shì hēisè de.) → My car is black.
Alternatively, you can also use the structure:
[Color + 的 + Noun]
For example:
- 白色的猫。(Báisè de māo.) → White cat
- 红色的车。(Hóngsè de chē.) → Red car
Here is a table summarizing basic Chinese color vocabulary:
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 红色 | hóng sè | Red |
| 蓝色 | lán sè | Blue |
| 绿色 | lǜ sè | Green |
| 黄色 | huáng sè | Yellow |
| 黑色 | hēi sè | Black |
| 白色 | bái sè | White |
| 橙色 | chéng sè | Orange |
| 紫色 | zǐ sè | Purple |
| 灰色 | huī sè | Gray |
| 粉色 | fěn sè | Pink |
| 棕色 | zōng sè | Brown |
| 金色 | jīn sè | Gold |
| 银色 | yín sè | Silver |
Advanced Chinese Color Vocabulary
Once you’ve mastered the basic color vocabulary in Chinese, you can expand your vocabulary with more advanced color terms. These words will help you describe objects more accurately and enhance your ability to express yourself in conversations.
In Chinese, the way colors are described is vibrant and diverse. You can use terms to describe the intensity of colors, such as how dark or light they are, or you can associate them with objects to make your descriptions more vivid. To describe the depth of a color, you can use the following words:
- 深 (shēn): Dark
- 浅 (qiǎn): Light
For example:
- 深红 (shēn hóng): Dark red
- 浅绿 (qiǎn lǜ): Light green
Chinese speakers also often describe colors by associating them with objects that share those colors, helping the listener to visualize more clearly. For example:
- 松树绿 (sōng shù lǜ): Pine green
- 樱花粉 (yīng huā fěn): Cherry blossom pink
- 象牙白 (xiàng yá bái): Ivory white
- 葡萄紫 (pú táo zǐ): Grape purple
- 珍珠白 (zhēn zhū bái): Pearl white
- 霞光橙 (xiá guāng chéng): Sunset orange
Next, let’s take a look at a list of some advanced Chinese color vocabulary:
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 浅蓝色 | qiǎn lán sè | Light blue |
| 深蓝色 | shēn lán sè | Dark blue |
| 浅绿色 | qiǎn lǜ sè | Light green |
| 深绿色 | shēn lǜ sè | Dark green |
| 米色 | mǐ sè | Beige |
| 杏色 | xìng sè | Apricot |
| 卡其色 | kǎ qí sè | Khaki |
| 象牙白 | xiàng yá bái | Ivory white |
| 浅灰色 | qiǎn huī sè | Light gray |
| 深灰色 | shēn huī sè | Dark gray |
| 酒红色 | jiǔ hóng sè | Wine red |
| 天蓝色 | tiān lán sè | Sky blue |
| 宝石蓝 | bǎo shí lán | Sapphire blue |
| 橄榄绿 | gǎn lǎn lǜ | Olive green |
| 玫瑰金 | méi guī jīn | Rose gold |
| 青铜色 | qīng tóng sè | Copper green |
| 藕色 | ǒu sè | Lotus root pink |
| 翠绿 | cuì lǜ | Jade green |
| 琥珀色 | hǔ pò sè | Amber |
| 浅紫 | qiǎn zǐ | Light purple |
| 赤褐 | chì hè | Reddish brown |
| 珊瑚橙 | shānhú chéng | Coral orange |
| 荧光绿 | yíngguāng lǜ | Neon green |
| 蜜桃色 | mì táo sè | Peach color |
| 藤黄 | téng huáng | Turmeric yellow |
| 葡萄紫 | pú táo zǐ | Grape purple |
| 樱花粉 | yīng huā fěn | Cherry blossom pink |
| 烟灰色 | yān huī sè | Smoky gray |
| 古铜色 | gǔ tóng sè | Antique bronze |
| 薰衣草紫 | xūn yī cǎo zǐ | Lavender purple |
| 芥末黄 | jiè mò huáng | Mustard yellow |
| 水鸭蓝 | shuǐ yā lán | Blue-winged teal |
| 青柠绿 | qīng níng lǜ | Lime green |
| 石板灰 | shí bǎn huī | Slate gray |
| 焦糖色 | jiāo táng sè | Caramel color |
| 砖红 | zhuān hóng | Brick red |
Chinese Idioms with Color Vocabulary
Idioms are fixed expressions with a concise structure that conveys a complete meaning, which often cannot be understood simply by interpreting the literal meaning of each word. The Chinese language contains numerous idioms related to colors, each carrying a profound and interesting meaning. Let’s explore some Chinese idioms that include color-related vocabulary!
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 青出于蓝 | Qīng chū yú lán | Green comes from blue; a student surpasses the teacher | This idiom originates from the idea that blue (qīng) is made from indigo dye, which comes from the indigo plant, but the color of the dye itself is stronger and more vibrant than the plant. |
| 红颜薄命 | Hóngyán bó mìng | Beautiful looks but a tragic fate | Describe someone, especially a woman, who has great physical beauty but suffers from misfortune or an unfortunate fate |
| 白头偕老 | Bái tóu xié lǎo | To grow old together | Describes a couple who have been together for many years and eventually grow old together. |
| 面红耳赤 | Miàn hóng ěr chì | To blush or become red-faced from embarrassment or anger | This idiom is used when someone is embarrassed, shy, or angry, often to the point where their face and ears visibly redden. |
| 白纸黑字 | Bái zhǐ hēi zì | Black and white on paper; clear written evidence | This idiom is used to refer to something that is clearly written or documented, often used in legal contexts. |
| 青黄不接 | Qīng huáng bù jiē | The green and yellow haven’t connected; lacking resources | “Green” refers to crops that are still growing (immature), while “yellow” refers to mature crops (such as ripe rice). When these two states don’t connect, it suggests that there is a gap between what is required and what is available |
| 红光满面 | Hóng guāng mǎn miàn | To have a radiant, healthy complexion | This idiom describes someone who is full of life and vigor. |
| 绿水青山 | Lǜ shuǐ qīng shān | Green rivers and mountains; beautiful natural scenery | This idiom refers to a picturesque, unspoiled natural landscape. |
| 青云直上 | Qīng yún zhí shàng | To rise straight up to the sky; rapid success | This idiom describes someone who rises quickly to success or is promoted rapidly in their career or social position. |
| 白山黑水 | Bái shān hēi shuǐ | Referring to Changbai Mountain and the Heilongjiang River, northeast China | This idiom refers to the geographical region in northeastern China, an area known for its distinctive landscape. |
| 黑白分明 | Hēi bái fēn míng | Clear distinction between black and white | It is used to indicate a situation where the truth is obvious and there is no room for confusion. |
| 黑灯瞎火 | Hēi dēng xiā huǒ | Pitch dark, a place without light; a difficult, unclear situation | This idiom describes a confusing, uncertain, or hopeless scenario. |
| 青梅竹马 | Qīng méi zhú mǎ | Green plums and bamboo horses; childhood sweethearts | This idiom originates from the poem “Changgan Xing” by the famous poet Li Bai, which described a young love story between two childhood friends. |
These idioms are often deeply rooted in Chinese culture, and their meanings offer insights into the values and historical context of Chinese society.
Sample Dialogue on Color Vocabulary in Chinese
In daily communication, describing colors helps enrich language and fosters connection in conversations. Asking about and describing colors is an important part of communication, especially when discussing preferences, clothing choices, interior decoration, or even shopping.
Therefore, becoming familiar with sample dialogues about colors in Chinese will help you expand your vocabulary while enhancing your communication skills and cultural understanding of China. Let’s take a look at some sample dialogues:
Example 1: Asking about Colors When Shopping
A: 这双鞋子有其他颜色吗？
(Zhè shuāng xié zi yǒu qí tā yán sè ma?)
A: Does this pair of shoes come in other colors?
B: 有，我们还有黑色和白色的。
(Yǒu, wǒ men hái yǒu hēi sè hé bái sè de.)
B: Yes, we also have them in black and white.
Example 2: Asking About the Color of an Object
A: 这是什么颜色的手机？
(Zhè shì shén me yán sè de shǒu jī?)
A: What color is this phone?
B: 这是黑色的手机。
(Zhè shì hēi sè de shǒu jī.)
B: This is a black phone.
Example 3: Asking for Opinions About Colors
A: 你觉得这幅画的颜色怎么样？
(Nǐ jué de zhè fú huà de yán sè zěn me yàng?)
A: What do you think of the colors in this painting?
B: 我觉得这个绿色很清新，看起来很舒服。
(Wǒ jué de zhè ge lǜ sè hěn qīng xīn, kàn qǐ lái hěn shū fu.)
B: I think this green is very refreshing; it looks very comfortable.
Summary
Mastering color vocabulary in Chinese will make you more flexible in communication across various situations. We hope that through this article from Ni Hao Ma, you now have a clearer understanding of how to use color vocabulary in Chinese, with practical examples for daily conversations. For more exciting vocabulary, check out Ni Hao Ma’s online and offline Chinese courses, and contact our hotline for consultation!
