景色

• Pinyin: jǐng sè
• Hanzi breakdown: 景 = 日 (sun) + 京 (capital/tall), meaning sunlit scene; 色 = originally a kneeling person figure, meaning colour or appearance

Meaning

Scenery; landscape; view. The visual appearance of a natural or outdoor setting.

Refers specifically to the visual beauty of outdoor landscapes and natural settings. Commonly used when describing travel destinations, seasons, or picturesque views. Similar to 风景, but 景色 focuses more on the visual appearance while 风景 can be broader.

Examples

1. 这里的景色太美了。 The scenery here is so beautiful.
2. 山上的景色和山下完全不同。 The scenery at the top of the mountain is completely different from the bottom.
3. 秋天的景色是最漂亮的。 Autumn scenery is the most beautiful.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, nature, description

Tone: appreciative

Do Say

• 我拍了很多景色的照片。(I took many photos of the scenery.)
• 海边的景色让人心情放松。(The seaside scenery makes one feel relaxed.)

Don't Say

• 教室里的景色很好。(Don't use 景色 for indoor settings — it describes outdoor natural scenery. For a nice classroom environment, say 教室的环境很好.)

Origin & History

Compound of 景 (scenery, view, scene) and 色 (colour, appearance). Together: 'the colours and appearance of a scene' — natural scenery.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal