藍色 / 蓝色
lánsè
The English phrase 'blue' translates to Chinese as 藍色 / 蓝色 (lánsè). If unsure, use 藍色 / 蓝色. Wiktionary also lists 藍 / 蓝 (lán).
Meaning: blue-coloured (adj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 藍色 / 蓝色 | lánsè | |
| 藍 / 蓝 | lán | |
| 藍色 / 蓝色 | nâ-sek | Hokkien |
The term is used to describe the color blue. Related shade variations include 深蓝色 (dark blue) and 浅蓝色 (light blue). You may also encounter 蓝绿色, which refers to 'blue-green' or 'turquoise'. Note that the term 青色 refers to the color of young plants and can be used to mean 'green'.
What does it mean word for word?
The single character 藍 / 蓝 means 'blue' and can function as an adjective or a noun. Adding the suffix 色 (sè), which means 'color', to the character creates the noun 'blue' or the formal adjective 'blue-colored'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form 藍色 / 蓝色 is also associated with Hokkien.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 'blue' as a modifying adjective before a noun, such as 'a blue sky', you typically add the particle 的 (de) after the color, resulting in 藍色的.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation for 藍色 / 蓝色 is lánsè.
Did you know?
- Because 藍色 / 蓝色 is the color of the 'Azure Dragon', one of the four symbols of the Chinese constellations, it is often associated with spring and rebirth.
- The term 藍色 / 蓝色 is linked to the 'blue' associated with the East in traditional Chinese cosmology and the Five Elements theory.
- While 藍色 / 蓝色 is the standard word for blue, the concept of 'blue' was historically merged with 'green' in many ancient Chinese texts.
Examples in context
- 天空是蓝色的The sky is blue
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blue” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
