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色相 (sè xiāng) — hue; color (especially in art, design, or photography); (Buddhism) form and aspect; the physical world as perceived by the senses; feminine charms; physical beauty (often with a negative connotation)

Definition

色相 in art/design means 'hue' (a color's pure tone); in Buddhism it refers to the physical, sensory form of the world as opposed to the true nature of things; colloquially, it can mean a woman's physical charms, often in a disapproving sense.

noun
huecolor (especially in art, design, or photography)(Buddhism) form and aspectthe physical world as perceived by the sensesfeminine charmsphysical beauty (often with a negative connotation)

Examples

  • 色相。
    Zhè zhāng zhào piàn de sè xiāng fēi cháng róu hé.
    The hue of this photo is very soft.
  • 色相。
    Fó jiào rèn wéi sè xiāng shì xū wàng de.
    Buddhism considers form and aspect to be illusory.
  • 色相。
    Tā lì yòng sè xiāng lái huò qǔ lì yì.
    She uses her physical charms to gain benefits.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

色sèform/color
相xiāngappearance

色 (form/color) and 相 (appearance) combine to mean visible appearance.

Characters in this word

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.

Open 色 →

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →
Appears in
ColorsReligion & Belief

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