粉 (fěn) - powder & cosmetic powder

粉Tone 3

fěn ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

恩丰

粉 · fěn

powder;

cosmetic powder;

flour;

starch;

noodles or vermicelli made from bean or sweet potato starch;

pink color;

whitewash

powdercosmetic powderflour

Usage highlights

face powderflourpink colorrice noodlesstarchwhitewash

Synonyms

  • 末— powder, fine particles
  • 面— flour, powder (in some contexts)

Antonyms

  • 块— lump, chunk (opposite of powdered form)
  • 整— whole, complete (opposite of pulverized)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She applied face powder (扑粉) before going out.
  • We need flour (面粉) to make bread.
  • The wall needs a fresh coat of whitewash (粉刷).
  • I love eating rice noodles (米粉) for breakfast.
  • The room was painted a soft pink (粉色).

Collocations

  • face powder(扑粉)
  • flour(面粉)
  • pink color(粉色)
  • rice noodles(米粉)
  • starch(淀粉)
  • whitewash(粉刷)

Idioms

  • To meet one's death(粉身碎骨)
  • To whitewash or cover up(粉饰太平)
  • To apply powder and paint(粉墨登场)
  • Pink cheeks and pearly teeth(粉面朱唇)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, powder was associated with feminine beauty and cosmetics.
  • The character appears in terms related to food staples like flour and noodles.
  • Pink color carries associations of romance, femininity, and delicacy in Chinese culture.
  • The character is used metaphorically in idioms about deception and superficial appearances.

FAQ