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褪色 (tùn sè) — to fade (of colors)

Definition

褪色 (tùn sè) is a verb specifically for colors fading in sunlight or after washing — not used for general 'weakening' or 'disappearing'. The 色 is part of the verb, not a separate noun object.

verb
to fade (of colors)

Examples

  • 褪色。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu xǐ le jǐ cì jiù tùn sè le.
    This shirt faded after just a few washes.
  • ，。
    Nà jiàn chèn shān yǐ jīng tuì le sè, bù néng zài chuān le.
    That shirt has already faded; it can't be worn anymore.
  • ，褪色。
    Yáng guāng tài qiáng, zhào piàn de yán sè màn màn tùn sè le.
    The sunlight was too strong; the colors of the photo gradually faded.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

褪tuìlose
色sècolor

褪 means lose and 色 means color, so the word describes losing color.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衣衣yīclothing
Sound part声符shēngfú
退
退tuì褪tuì
Same sound today

褪 pairs 衣, showing clothing, with 退, which gives the sound.

Open 褪 →

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 →
Appears in
Colors

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