色 (sè) - color & appearance

色Tone 4

sè ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 色

三姗

色 · sè

color;

appearance;

look;

countenance;

scenery;

sensual;

feminine charm

colorappearancelook

Usage highlights

colorfacial expressionscenerybeautytone/colorlust

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 空— emptiness, void (Buddhist contrast)
  • 无色— colorless

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The color of the sky is blue (天空的颜色是蓝色的).
  • She has a good complexion (她气色很好).
  • This is a colorful painting (这是一幅色彩丰富的画).
  • He changed his expression when he heard the news (听到消息后他脸色变了).

Collocations

  • color(颜色)
  • facial expression(脸色)
  • scenery(景色)
  • beauty(美色)
  • tone/color(色调)
  • lust(色欲)

Idioms

  • Show one's true colors(原形毕露)
  • Beaming with happiness(喜形于色)
  • Not show any change in countenance(不动声色)
  • All the colors of the rainbow(五光十色)
  • Be pale with fright(面如土色)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese philosophy, '色' represents both physical appearance and material form, contrasted with emptiness in Buddhist concepts.
  • In Confucian context, '色' refers to facial expressions that should be controlled to maintain proper social decorum.
  • The character appears in Buddhist terms like '色即是空' (form is emptiness), emphasizing the illusory nature of material world.

FAQ