Language/Yue-chinese/Vocabulary/Colors
Hi Yue Chinese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn words related to colors in Yue Chinese. Colors are essential to our daily lives, and understanding how to express them in another language can be beneficial. You can use these words anywhere, whether you are buying something, describing a painting, or simply having a conversation with a friend. To make the lesson more interesting, we will also provide some cultural insights and examples.
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages:Drinks, Yue Chinese Vocabulary → Daily Life → Food and Drink, How to Say Hello and Greetings & At the Market.
Basic Colors[edit | edit source]
In Yue Chinese, basic colors are expressed as simple one-word adjectives. Here are some common ones:
| Yue Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 红色 | hóng sè | red |
| 橙色 | chéng sè | orange |
| 黄色 | huáng sè | yellow |
| 绿色 | lǜ sè | green |
| 蓝色 | lán sè | blue |
| 紫色 | zǐ sè | purple |
| 粉色 | fěn sè | pink |
| 黑色 | hēi sè | black |
| 白色 | bái sè | white |
| 灰色 | huī sè | grey |
Here are some ways to use these color words:
- 我喜欢红色。 (Wǒ xǐhuān hóngsè.) - I like red.
- 这是橙色的汽车。 (Zhè shì chéngsè de qìchē.) - This is an orange car.
- 太阳是黄色的。 (Tàiyáng shì huángsè de.) - The sun is yellow.
- 苹果是绿色的。 (Píngguǒ shì lǜsè de.) - Apples are green.
- 我最喜欢的颜色是蓝色。 (Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de yánsè shì lánsè.) - My favorite color is blue.
- 这个盒子是紫色的。 (Zhège hézi shì zǐsè de.) - This box is purple.
- 我喜欢穿粉色的衣服。 (Wǒ xǐhuān chuān fěnsè de yīfú.) - I like to wear pink clothes.
- 夜晚是黑色的。 (Yèwǎn shì hēisè de.) - The night is black.
- 这张纸是白色的。 (Zhè zhāng zhǐ shì báisè de.) - This paper is white.
- 天空是灰色的。 (Tiānkōng shì huīsè de.) - The sky is grey.
Advanced Colors[edit | edit source]
In addition to basic colors, Yue Chinese also has words for more advanced colors. These are often composed of two to three characters and are used in specific contexts, such as art or design.
Metal Colors[edit | edit source]
Here are the words used to describe metal colors:
| Yue Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 金色 | jīn sè | gold |
| 银色 | yín sè | silver |
| 铜色 | tóng sè | bronze |
| 铁灰色 | tiě huī sè | iron gray |
| 黄铜色 | huáng tóng sè | brass |
Here are some examples of how these words can be used:
- 那个锁是金色的。 (Nà gè suǒ shì jīnsè de.) - That lock is gold.
- 这个戒指是银色的。 (Zhège jièzhǐ shì yínsè de.) - This ring is silver.
- 那个牌子是铜色的。 (Nà gè páizi shì tóngsè de.) - That sign is bronze.
- 这个门是铁灰色的。 (Zhège mén shì tiě huī sè de.) - This door is iron gray.
- 这个吊灯是黄铜色的。 (Zhège diàodēng shì huáng tóng sè de.) - This chandelier is brass colored.
Natural Colors[edit | edit source]
Here are the words used to describe natural colors:
| Yue Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 棕色 | zōng sè | brown |
| 粉红色 | fěn hóng sè | fuchsia |
| 灰绿色 | huī lǜ sè | olive |
| 海蓝色 | hǎi lán sè | teal |
Here are some examples of how these words can be used:
- 德国啤酒是棕色的。 (Déguó píjiǔ shì zōngsè de.) - German beer is brown.
- 这个钢琴是粉红色的。 (Zhège gāngqín shì fěn hóng sè de.) - This piano is fuchsia.
- 他穿了灰绿色的衣服。 (Tā chuānle huī lǜ sè de yīfú.) - He is wearing olive colored clothes.
- 我的卫衣是海蓝色的。 (Wǒ de wèiyī shì hǎi lán sè de.) - My sweatshirt is teal colored.
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
Colors have a significant impact on Chinese culture, symbolism and representation. Here are some interesting cultural facts related to colors:
- In Chinese culture, the color red symbolizes good fortune and happiness. That's why it's often used during celebrations, such as weddings and the Chinese New Year.
- The color white is associated with mourning and funerals in China. This belief originated from ancient times, where white clothes were worn during sacrifices to the dead.
- The number eight in Chinese, "ba" (八), sounds similar to the word for prosperity (发, "fa"). Therefore, the color red, which brings good fortune, is often combined with the number eight.
- The color yellow represents the Chinese emperor and the royal family. It was a forbidden color for the general public to wear in ancient times.
- In Chinese language and culture, green is often associated with health and vitality, representing the balance of energy between yin and yang.
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: 你喜欢什么颜色？(Nǐ xǐhuān shénme yánsè?) - What color do you like?
- Person 2: 我喜欢蓝色。 (Wǒ xǐhuān lánsè.) - I like blue.
- Person 1: 你喜欢什么颜色的花？(Nǐ xǐhuān shénme yánsè de huā?) - What color flowers do you like?
- Person 2: 我喜欢粉红色的花。 (Wǒ xǐhuān fěn hóng sè de huā.) - I like fuchsia colored flowers.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Learning colors in Yue Chinese is an excellent way to expand your vocabulary and communicate more effectively with native speakers. Remember to practice and use these words as much as possible to improve your proficiency. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
With this lesson finished, you may want to explore these additional pages:Learn How to Understand and Give Directions in Yue Chinese, Nouns, Time 時間 & Numbers 1 100.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]