灰色
The English word grey is translated into Mandarin as 灰色.
The primary term for the color is 灰色. The term 灰灰的 is an affectionate way to describe something as grey, often used for pet fur or soft objects.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the character 灰, which literally means 'ash'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 'grey' as an adjective to modify a noun, you often add the particle 的 after 灰色, resulting in 灰色的.
Did you know?
- The phrase 灰心 uses the character for 'grey' to mean 'discouraged' or 'to lose heart', suggesting that a 'grey' spirit is one that has lost its brightness.
- When describing a 'grey-haired' person, speakers often avoid 灰色 and instead use 白发, which means 'white hair', as white is the culturally standard term for aging hair.
- The term 灰溜溜 (huī liū liū) uses the character for 'grey' to describe someone acting sheepishly or dejectedly, as if they are trying to blend into the shadows.
Examples in context
- 猫在黑暗中都是灰色的。All cats are grey in the dark.This sentence uses 灰色 to describe the color of cats in the dark.Tatoeba #335271 by fucongcong, translation #2350 by RJH
- 这件衣服是灰色的。This piece of clothing is grey.
- 这只小猫的毛是灰灰的。This little cat has grey fur.
- 这件T恤是灰的。This T-shirt is grey.
- 那件灰色的大衣很漂亮。Nà jiàn huīsè de dàyī hěn piàoliang.That grey coat is very beautiful.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Junjie and Xiaowen are looking at clothes in a shop.
- 俊杰 Junjie晓雯，你觉得这件灰色的大衣怎么样？Xiǎowén, nǐ juéde zhè jiàn huīsè de dàyī zěnmeyàng?Xiaowen, what do you think of this grey coat?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我觉得很适合你。Wǒ juéde hěn shìhé nǐ.I think it suits you well.
- 俊杰 Junjie真的吗？可是我觉得颜色有点深。Zhēn de ma? Kěshì wǒ juéde yánsè yǒudiǎn shēn.Really? But I think the color is a bit dark.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen不，这个灰色很高级。Bù, zhège huīsè hěn gāojí.No, this grey is very high-end.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
