Definition
灰 (huī) as a noun means ash or dust (a powdery substance), and as an adjective it means gray. For the color, 灰色 (huī sè) is the standard noun for 'gray'; 灰 is more often used as a modifier (e.g., 灰布 'gray cloth'). For dust, 灰尘 (huī chén) specifically means dust, while 灰 can also refer to ash or lime. The discouraged sense only appears in compounds like 灰心 (huī xīn).
noun
ashdustlime (powdery substance)
adjective
gray (color)discourageddejected (used in compounds like 灰心)
Easily confused
- 炼liànlook-aliketo refine (skills, writing, etc.)
- 会huìsound-alikecan, be able to (know how to); be likely to, will
- 灭mièlook-aliketo extinguish, to put out (a fire, light, etc.)
- 会huìsound-alikecan; to know how to (a learned skill)
- 伙huǒlook-alike(classifier) for groups of people
- 回huísound-alike(verb) to return, to go back
- 灾zāilook-alikedisaster, calamity
- 毁huǐsound-aliketo defame, to slander
- 挥huīsound-aliketo wave, to brandish
- 汇huìsound-aliketo remit (money)
Examples
- 灰。Bìlú lǐ de huī xūyào qīnglǐ le.The ash in the fireplace needs to be cleaned.
- 。Jīntiān de tiānkōng shì huī sè de.Today's sky is gray.
- ，。Shībài le hěn duō cì, dàn tā méiyǒu huī xīn.He failed many times, but he didn't lose heart.
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