靑 (qīng) - Blue, green & young

靑Tone 1

qīng ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 靑

器情

靑 · qīng

Blue, green;

young;

fresh;

the color of nature and youth.

Blue, greenyoungfresh

Usage highlights

YouthBlue skyGreen grassYoung ageGreen hillsInexperienced

Synonyms

  • 蓝— blue (color)
  • 绿— green (color)
  • 年轻— young (age)

Antonyms

  • 老— old (age)
  • 黄— yellow (mature, withered)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The sky is blue (青天).
  • Young people are the future (青年).
  • Spring brings green grass (青草).
  • He is a young scholar (青衿).

Collocations

  • Youth(青年)
  • Blue sky(青天)
  • Green grass(青草)
  • Young age(青春)
  • Green hills(青山)
  • Inexperienced(青涩)

Idioms

  • Blue comes from indigo but is bluer than indigo(青出于蓝而胜于蓝)
  • Green mountains and blue waters(青山绿水)
  • Preserve one's integrity in poverty(青蝇吊客)
  • Young and inexperienced(青黄不接)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese color symbolism, 青 encompasses both blue and green, representing nature, vitality, and youth.
  • 青 is associated with the east and spring in the Five Elements system, symbolizing growth and new beginnings.
  • Historically used to describe the color of the sky, vegetation, and the robes of scholars and officials.

FAQ