發紺 / 发绀
fāgàn
The English term cyanosis is translated into Mandarin as 發紺 / 发绀 (fāgàn). Wiktionary also lists 青紫 (qīngzǐ).
Meaning: discolouration of the skin (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 發紺 / 发绀 | fāgàn |
| 青紫 | qīngzǐ |
Cyanosis refers to the discoloration of the skin.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 發紺 / 发绀 (fāgàn) is composed of 发 (to emit or occur) and 绀 (a deep blue or dark indigo color).
Which one should you use?
Use 發紺 / 发绀 (fāgàn) when referring to the formal medical term for cyanosis. In contrast, 青紫 (qīngzǐ) is a more descriptive, colloquial term used to describe a 'blue-purple' appearance, such as the color of someone's skin or lips, rather than being used as a clinical diagnosis.
How do you pronounce it?
fāgàn
Did you know?
- The formal term 发绀 is a loan-translation from the Japanese term 'kanko', reflecting how many modern medical terms in Mandarin were adapted from Japanese translations of Western science.
- The character 绀 (gàn) is an ancient color term used in Chinese literature to describe much more than just medical symptoms, often referring to high-quality dyed silks.
- While the formal medical term 绀 (gàn) refers specifically to a deep indigo, the colloquial term 青紫 (qīngzǐ) uses the word 青 (qīng), which can mean blue, green, or even black depending on the context of the skin tone.
Examples in context
- 他患有发绀症。He suffers from cyanosis.
- 孩子的嘴唇发青了。The child's lips turned blue.
- 当他出现青紫时，请立即呼叫医生。Call a doctor immediately if he develops cyanosis.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cyanosis” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
