基色 (jī sè) — primary colors | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Technical term for the basic colors (red, blue, yellow) used to mix all other colors — formal, used in art and color theory rather than daily talk. 原色 is the more common everyday synonym.

noun

primary colors

Examples

、、基色。
Hóng, lán, huáng shì sān zhǒng jī sè.
Red, blue, and yellow are three primary colors.
基色。
Huà jiā yòng jī sè lái hùn hé qí tā yán sè.
Artists use primary colors to mix other colors.
基色。
jī sè Shì sè cǎi lǐ lùn zhōng zuì zhòng yào de gài niàn.
Primary colors are the most important concept in color theory.

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.

“基” base + “色” color means a basic or primary 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.

其土基

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

其

其qí基jī

Same sound today

The lower 土 means earth, and the upper 其 gives the sound; together they form the idea of a foundation of earth.

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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