Red in Chinese
The Chinese word for "red" is 红色 (hóng sè). It is built from "红色 = 红 (red) + 色 (color)". 红色 is the color red as a word on its own; before a noun Chinese often uses just 红, as in 红酒, 红包 and 红茶.
Chinese words for red
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 红色 | hóng sè | red | The default answer. |
| 红 | hóng | red | Before nouns and as a predicate: 红花, 脸红了; also means popular, as in 很红. |
| 大红 | dà hóng | bright red | Vivid, festive red, the red of lanterns and wedding decorations. |
| 深红 | shēn hóng | dark red, crimson | Deep shades of red. |
| 粉红 | fěn hóng | pink | Pink; literally 'powder red'. |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我最喜欢红色。 | wǒ zuì xǐ huan hóng sè. | Red is my favorite color. |
| 过年的时候，长辈会给孩子红包。 | guò nián de shí hou, zhǎng bèi huì gěi hái zi hóng bāo. | At Chinese New Year, older relatives give children red envelopes. |
| 她穿了一件红色的衣服。 | tā chuān le yī jiàn hóng sè de yī fu. | She is wearing red. |
| 他一说话就脸红。 | tā yī shuō huà jiù liǎn hóng. | He blushes as soon as he speaks. |
The characters in 红色
Common mistakes
- 红茶 is black tea, not red tea, and 红酒 is red wine.
- Writing someone's name in red ink is traditionally avoided, so do not sign a card to a Chinese friend in red.
- 色 is sè in 红色; the colloquial reading shǎi is not used in this word.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How do you say red in Chinese?
红色 (hóng sè), literally "红色 = 红 (red) + 色 (color)". Other ways: 红 (hóng); 大红 (dà hóng); 深红 (shēn hóng).
Why is red lucky in China?
Red stands for happiness, celebration and good fortune. It fills Spring Festival decorations, and traditional weddings use it everywhere.
What is a 红包?
A 红包 (hóng bāo) is a red envelope of money given as a gift, especially to children at Chinese New Year and to couples at weddings.
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