黑色 (hēi sè) — black (color)

Definition

黑色 is the noun for the color black, used in everyday phrases like 黑色的衣服. Unlike the adjective 黑, 黑色 names the color itself, so it pairs with 的 before a noun.

noun
black (color)

Examples

  • 黑色。
    Wǒ xǐ huan hēi sè de yī fu.
    I like black clothes.
  • 黑色。
    Nà zhī hēi sè de gǒu shì wǒ de.
    That black dog is mine.
  • 黑色？
    Nǐ de chē shì hēi sè de ma?
    Is your car black?

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.

黑hēiblack
色sècolor

黑 describes the 色, giving the color black.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 黑 seems to come from drawing a head marked with dots, usually read as facial tattoos.

Open 黑 →

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 →
Appears in
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