蓝 (lán) - Blue — the color blue & indigo plant

蓝Tone 2

lán ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

蓝 · lán

Blue — the color blue;

indigo plant;

used metaphorically for something vast or expansive (like the sky or sea).

Blue — the color blueindigo plantused metaphorically for something vast or expansive (like

Usage highlights

Blue skyBlue colorIndigo plantBlueprintBlue jeansAzure sea

Synonyms

  • 青— blue-green/cyan (covers a broader color spectrum)
  • 碧— bluish-green/jade green

Antonyms

  • 红— red (color opposite)
  • 黄— yellow (different primary color)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The sky is blue (蓝天).
  • She wore a blue dress (蓝色的裙子).
  • The deep blue sea (深蓝的海洋).
  • Blue is my favorite color (蓝色是我最喜欢的颜色).

Collocations

  • Blue sky(蓝天)
  • Blue color(蓝色)
  • Indigo plant(蓝草)
  • Blueprint(蓝图)
  • Blue jeans(蓝牛仔裤)
  • Azure sea(碧蓝的大海)

Idioms

  • Blue comes from the indigo plant but is bluer than it(青出于蓝而胜于蓝)
  • The blue sky and white sun(青天白日)
  • Drawing a blueprint(画蓝图)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, blue (蓝) was associated with the east and spring, representing growth and harmony.
  • The idiom '青出于蓝而胜于蓝' metaphorically describes students surpassing their teachers, originating from the process of extracting indigo dye.
  • Blue is considered a serene, stable color in Chinese color symbolism, often associated with immortality and healing.

FAQ