翠绿

• Pinyin: cuì lǜ
• Hanzi breakdown: 翠 = 羽 (feathers) + 卒 (phonetic, jade green); 绿 = 纟+ 录 (green)

Meaning

Emerald green; verdant; bright green. A vivid shade of green reminiscent of jade or fresh foliage.

A literary and appreciative way to describe green color, particularly of plants, jade, or nature. More poetic than 绿色. Often used in descriptions of spring scenery, forests, or precious jade.

Examples

1. 春天来了，山坡上一片翠绿，美不胜收。 Spring has arrived, and the hillside is covered in emerald green — a sight of breathtaking beauty.
2. 她戴着一对翠绿的玉镯，在阳光下格外好看。 She wore a pair of emerald green jade bracelets that looked especially beautiful in the sunlight.
3. 雨后的茶园翠绿欲滴，茶农们开始了一天的采摘。 After the rain, the tea plantation was lush and verdant, and the tea farmers began their day of picking.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, jade, description

Tone: appreciative

Do Say

• 草地一片翠绿。(The grassland is a stretch of emerald green.)
• 翠绿的树叶在风中摇曳。(The verdant leaves sway in the wind.)

Don't Say

• 翠绿的红苹果 (Contradictory — 翠绿 is green, not red)

Origin & History

Compound of 翠 (kingfisher, jade green) + 绿 (green). The 翠 originally referred to the color of kingfisher feathers and jade, a highly prized hue.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal