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秀色 (xiù sè) — beautiful scenery (of a landscape); good looks (of a person)

Definition

A literary noun meaning 'exquisite beauty' — used of striking scenery or a captivating woman. Almost always appears in set phrases like 秀色可餐 rather than alone.

noun
beautiful scenery (of a landscape)good looks (of a person)

Examples

  • 秀色，。
    Zhè lǐ de fēng jǐng zhēn shì xiù sè kě cān, ràng rén liú lián wàng fǎn.
    The scenery here is so beautiful you could eat it; it makes people linger and forget to go home.
  • ，秀色。
    Tā bù jǐn cái huá chū zhòng, ér qiě xiù sè lìng rén qīng dǎo.
    She is not only exceptionally talented, but her good looks are also captivating.
  • ，秀色，。
    Zhàn zài huáng shān zhī diān, mǎn yǎn xiù sè, fǎng fú zhì shēn xiān jìng.
    Standing on top of Huangshan, with beautiful scenery filling your eyes, it feels like being in a fairyland.

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.

秀xiùbeautiful
色sèappearance

秀 and 色 make beautiful scenery or looks.

Characters in this word

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

秀 pairs 禾 (rice plant) with 引 (to draw out flowers), showing a rice plant putting out flowers.

Open 秀 →

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 →
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