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多姿多彩 (duō zī duō cǎi) — colorful and varied, rich and diverse

Definition

An idiom meaning 'colorful and varied' — used for things like performances, life, or culture that have many different, vibrant forms. Sets it apart from 丰富多彩, which focuses on richness and abundance rather than variety.

idiom
colorful and variedrich and diverse

Examples

  • 多姿多彩。
    Wǎn huì shàng biǎo yǎn le duō zī duō cǎi de jié mù.
    A colorful variety of performances were put on at the party.
  • 多姿多彩，。
    Tā de shēng huó shí fēn duō zī duō cǎi, měi tiān dōu yǒu xīn tǐ yàn.
    Her life is very colorful; she has new experiences every day.
  • 多姿多彩，。
    Yún nán de mín zú wén huà duō zī duō cǎi, lìng rén jīng tàn.
    The ethnic cultures of Yunnan are rich and diverse, truly amazing.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

多姿many forms
多duōmany姿zīforms
偏正Modifier + head
多彩many colors
多duōmany彩cǎicolors
偏正Modifier + head

多 means many, and 姿 and 彩 refer to forms and colors; the balanced pieces together describe abundant shapes and hues.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

多 originally showed two pieces of meat placed together; the repeated meat shape gives the sense of many.

Open 多 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
次
次cì姿zī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

姿 pairs 女, meaning woman, with 次, which gives the sound.

Open 姿 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

多 originally showed two pieces of meat placed together; the repeated meat shape gives the sense of many.

Open 多 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
采
采cǎi彩cǎi
Same sound today

彩 puts 采, which gives the sound, next to 彡, the three-stroke mark that carries the meaning.

Open 彩 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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