色

🇹🇼🇭🇰🇨🇳🇯🇵🇰🇷

color

HSK 4 N3

sè

ショク、シキ

いろ

색

Depicts a kneeling person (卩) being pushed down by a hand (爪). Based on the original meaning "press down", now written as 抑. The current meaning "color" is a phonetic loan.

Components

爪 claw+ 卩 person kneeling =

色 color

爪 Iconic component

zhǎo claw

claw, nail, talon

卩 Iconic component

jié person kneeling

seal

Notes

Historical Evolution

Bronze

Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal

Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal

Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal

Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal

Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal

Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal

Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical

Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical

Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

色

Regular

Modern

Chinese

色 [sè]

color; CL:種|种[zhǒng]; look; appearance; sex

色 [shǎi]

color; dice

Japanese

色いろ同音

noun

colour; color; hue; tint; tinge; shade
complexion; skin colour; skin color
look (on one's face); expression
appearance; air; feeling
personality; character
tone (of one's voice, etc.); tune; sound; ring
love; lust; sensuality; love affair
lover; paramour
beauty; sexiness; physical appeal
kind; type; variety (also written 種)

色しょく同音

counter counter for colours

色しき同音

noun

Buddhism rupa (form)
visible objects (i.e. color and form)

Korean

색 [色]

Noun

color; tint; hue; An object's color such as red, yellow, blue, etc., or brightness or darkness, which are decided by light.; color; A characteristic that differs from that of an ordinary person or object.; sex; sexual relation; A sexual relationship with a woman.; color; A word that means "color."

Example Sentences

🇯🇵 (2)

その色は彼女の髪の毛とよく合った。

The color went beautifully with her hair.

満足の色が彼の顔に浮かんだ。

A look of contentment appeared on his face.

Japanese Names

色いろ

Iro surname

色しき

Shiki female given name

CHINESE WORDS (200)