绀 (gàn) — (bound form) dark purple, deep bluish-purple
Definition
绀 (gàn) is a bound form used only in color compounds like 绀色 and 绀紫, denoting a deep purplish-blue — darker than plain 紫, closer to black-purple. You'll meet it in literary or classical-style writing, not everyday speech.
bound form
dark purpledeep bluish-purple
Examples
- 绀。Zhè jiàn gǔ huà shàng de gàn sè yǐ jīng tuì le.The dark purple color on this ancient painting has faded.
- 绀。Tā chuān le yí jiàn gàn qīng sè de qí páo.She wore a dark blue cheongsam.
- 绀。Gǔ jí zhōng cháng yòng gàn zǐ lái xíng róng wǎn xiá.Ancient texts often use dark purple to describe sunset clouds.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 紺; 绀 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk; thread
The traditional form 紺 pairs 糸 (silk; thread) with 甘 to give the sound; 绀 is a later simplified shape.
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