Chinese word

颜色

Pronunciation

Pinyinyán sè

Meaning

  • nouncolor

Example

你喜欢什么颜色？nǐ xǐ huān shén me yán sè

What color do you like?

Illustration for 颜色 (color)

More examples

这件衣服的颜色很好看。zhè jiàn yī fú de yán sè hěn hǎo kàn

The color of this piece of clothing looks very nice.

Core concept

The visible quality of light or a surface that separates one visual appearance from another.

Common phrases

  • 什么颜色shén me yán sè

    what color

  • 颜色很好看yán sè hěn hǎo kàn

    color looks nice

Definition in Chinese

表示物体或光线所呈现的颜色和色泽，用来区分红、蓝、绿等不同的视觉效果。biǎo shì wù tǐ huò guāng xiàn suǒ chéng xiàn de yán sè hé sè zé yòng lái qū fēn hóng lán lǜ děng bù tóng de shì jué xiào guǒ

Word origin

颜色 (yánsè, "color") combines 颜 (yán, "face") and 色 (sè, "appearance or color"), linking visible facial appearance with the broader idea of color.

Usage tips

  • In English, color works as both a noun and a verb, but this Chinese word functions as a noun.

Other meanings

  • shadenoun

Word lists with this word