Definition
黑 (hēi) is the basic word for the color black. It also means 'dark' (lacking light), similar to 暗 (àn), but 黑 is more about the color or complete darkness, while 暗 emphasizes dimness or secrecy. Additionally, 黑 has a unique sense of 'illegal, shady' (e.g., 黑钱 'black money') that 暗 does not share.
adjective
black (the color)darkdimillegalshadysecret
Easily confused
- 焦jiāolook-alikeburnt, scorched, charred (resultative complement)
- 嘿hēisound-alike(interjection) hey! (to call attention or greet informally)
Examples
- 黑。Tā chuān zhe yí jiàn hēi chènshān.He is wearing a black shirt.
- 黑，。Zhège fángjiān tài hēi le, wǒ kàn bú jiàn dōngxi.This room is too dark, I can't see anything.
- 。Zhè zhǒng hēi qián bù néng huā.This kind of black money cannot be spent.
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