彩 (cǎi) - Color & variegated

彩Tone 3

cǎi ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

偲嫦

彩 · cǎi

Color;

variegated;

colorful;

brilliance;

prize;

applause;

colorful silk;

blood (literary).

Colorvariegatedcolorful

Usage highlights

RainbowColorfulBrilliant and colorfulApplauseLottery ticketColorful clouds

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 素— Plain, unadorned
  • 灰— Gray, dull
  • 黑白— Black and white, monochrome

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The rainbow has seven colors (彩虹).
  • She won first prize in the competition (中头彩).
  • The festival was full of colorful decorations (五彩缤纷).
  • The performance received enthusiastic applause (喝彩).

Collocations

  • Rainbow(彩虹)
  • Colorful(彩色)
  • Brilliant and colorful(五彩)
  • Applause(喝彩)
  • Lottery ticket(彩票)
  • Colorful clouds(彩云)

Idioms

  • Extremely colorful and brilliant(五彩斑斓)
  • Brilliant and dazzling(光彩夺目)
  • Hanging colorful lanterns and decorating with silk(张灯结彩)
  • After the clouds disperse, the sun shines brightly(云开见彩)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, bright colors symbolize joy, celebration, and good fortune.
  • The character appears in many festive contexts, such as weddings and holidays, representing vibrancy and happiness.
  • In ancient times, '彩' referred to colored silk used in ceremonies and as rewards.
  • The character carries positive connotations of beauty, variety, and excellence.

FAQ