铁青 (tiě qīng) — ashen, livid, ghastly pale (of complexion, espe…

Definition

adjective

ashenlividghastly pale (of complexion, especially from anger, fear, or illness)

，铁青，。
Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā de liǎn sè tiě qīng, yí jù huà yě shuō bù chū lái.
Upon hearing the news, his face turned ashen, and he couldn't say a word.
铁青，。
Tā qì dé liǎn sè tiě qīng, shuāng shǒu dōu zài fā dǒu.
She was so angry her face turned livid, and both hands were trembling.
铁青，。
Bìng rén liǎn sè tiě qīng, bì xū mǎ shàng sòng yī yuàn.
The patient's face was ghastly pale; he must be sent to the hospital immediately.

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.

青qīngblue-black

铁 means iron and 青 means blue-black; the color resembles iron, giving a grim, pale face.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鐵; 铁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

𢧤

𢧤𢧤鐵tiě

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鐵 pairs 金 (metal) with 𢧤 as a sound part; the simplified 铁 is a later shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

An early form of 青 combined 生 and 井, both used for sound; the modern form has changed.