暗色 (àn sè) — dark colors; deep colors | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to dark or deep-toned colors (blacks, grays, dark blues, etc.), as opposed to light/pastel shades (浅色). The contrast often implies mood, weight, or formality.

noun

dark colorsdeep colors

Measure word · 种

Examples

暗色。
Tā xǐ huan chuān àn sè de yī fu.
She likes to wear dark-colored clothes.
暗色。
Zhè ge fáng jiān de àn sè ràng rén gǎn jué hěn ān jìng.
The dark colors in this room make it feel very quiet.
，暗色。
Zài huì huà zhōng, àn sè kě yǐ yòng lái biǎo xiàn yīn yǐng.
In painting, dark colors can be used to show shadows.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

暗 describes the quality, and 色 names color, yielding dark or deep colors.

Characters in this word

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

日音暗

Meaning part形符xíngfú

日日rìsun

Sound part声符shēngfú

音

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

暗 pairs 日 (sun) with 音, which gives the sound.

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

爪爪zhuǎclaw; hand
卩卩jiékneeling person

色 pairs 爪 (a hand) with 卩 (a kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on the kneeling person.

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