紫色
zi² sik¹
The Cantonese word for "purple" is 紫色 (zi² sik¹).
紫色 is used to refer to the color purple. It functions as both a noun to name the color and an adjective to describe things that are purple.
Meaning: colour (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of the character 紫, which means purple or violet.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
zi² sik¹
Did you know?
- The concept of 'purple' in ancient Chinese thought was linked to the North Star, which was believed to emit a 紫色 light, marking the center of the celestial universe.
- In Cantonese astrology or fortune-telling, describing someone's luck as having a 'purple aura' or 'purple qi' (紫氣) is a common way to suggest high status or great destiny.
- The character 紫 is also the first character in the name of the popular 'Purple Sand' (紫砂) clay used for making high-quality Yixing teapots.
Examples in context
- 我鍾意件灰色冷衫多過件紫色冷衫。I like the gray sweater more than the purple one.This sentence is useful for comparing the preference between a gray sweater and a 紫色 sweater.Tatoeba #5795061 by nickyeow, translation #2250453 by CK
- 我剛買咗一架紫色嘅單車。I just bought a purple bicycle.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at some flower plants in a garden.
- 志強 Chi Keung呢啲花係咩顏色？ni1 di1 fa1 hai6 me1 co4 sik1?What color are these flowers?
- 雅婷 Nga Ting佢哋係紫色。keoi5 dei6 hai6 zi2 sik1.They are purple.
- 志強 Chi Keung我好鍾意呢種紫色。ngo5 hou2 zung1 ji3 ni1 zung2 zi2 sik1.I really like this purple.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting志強，你真係好鍾意呢種色。zi3 koeng4, nei5 zan1 hai6 hou2 zung1 ji3 ni1 zung2 sik1.Chi Keung, you really like this color.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “purple” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
