黄

• Pinyin: huáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 黄 — ancient character; originally depicted the color of earth or a jade ornament.

Meaning

Yellow. The color yellow, one of the most culturally significant colors in China.

Yellow symbolizes royalty, earth, and the center in traditional Chinese culture. The Yellow Emperor (黄帝) is considered the ancestor of the Chinese people. Also appears in 黄河 (Yellow River) and many place names.

Examples

1. 秋天的树叶变黄了。 The tree leaves turn yellow in autumn.
2. 她买了一朵黄花。 She bought a yellow flower.
3. 这件黄衣服很好看。 This yellow outfit looks great.

Usage Guide

Context: colors, nature, descriptions

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这些花是黄的。(These flowers are yellow.)
• 黄河是中国的母亲河。(The Yellow River is China's mother river.)

Don't Say

• 注意黄色在口语中有特殊含义 (Be careful — in slang 黄色 can mean pornographic; 黄色笑话 means a dirty joke, not a yellow joke)

Origin & History

Ancient character representing the color of loess (yellow earth) abundant in northern China. One of the five traditional colors in Chinese culture.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal