紫色
zǐsè
The English word "purple" is translated into Chinese as 紫色 (zǐsè). Wiktionary also lists 紫 (zǐ) and 紺 / 绀 (gàn).
Meaning: colour (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 紫色 | zǐsè |
| 紫 | zǐ |
| 紺 / 绀 | gàn |
紫色 is the standard noun used to refer to the color purple. In creative contexts, people may use the term 茄子色 (qiézi sè), which literally means "eggplant color", to describe a specific shade of purple.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 紫色 is composed of 紫 (zǐ), meaning purple and 色 (sè), meaning color.
Which one should you use?
While 紫色 is the full noun for the color, the single character 紫 is often used more concisely as a shorthand adjective in natural speech or within compound words.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to use the color as an adjective to describe a noun, it is common to add the particle 的 to the word to form 紫色的.
How do you pronounce it?
zǐsè
Did you know?
- The term 紫色 is often linked to the 'Purple Forbidden City' (紫禁城), based on the belief that the North Star (the celestial emperor) is surrounded by a purple haze.
- Historically, because purple dye was so difficult to produce, wearing 紫色 clothing was strictly regulated by sumptuary laws and could be illegal for commoners.
- The character 紫 includes the radical 糸, which means 'silk' or 'thread'. This reveals that the ancient Chinese concept of the color purple was tied to the expensive dyed silks of the elite.
Examples in context
- 是紫色的嗎？Is it purple?This sentence is useful for asking if an object is 紫色.Tatoeba #13539911 by LeviHighway, translation #6011540 by zumley
- 花园里全是紫百合。The garden was full of purple lilies.This sentence shows how to use 紫 to describe flowers.Tatoeba #10215682 by GlossaMatik, translation #2438447 by FeuDRenais2
- 我的男朋友想把頭發染紫。My boyfriend wants to dye his hair purple.This sentence demonstrates the use of 紫 when describing hair color.Tatoeba #5631883 by verdastelo9604, translation #5506637 by confusedchild02
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yuting and Zhiqiang are looking at clothes in a shop.
- 雨婷 Yuting你覺得這件衣服好看嗎？Nǐ juéde zhè jiàn yīfu hǎokàn ma?Do you think this piece of clothing looks good?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我很喜歡這種紫色。Wǒ hěn xǐhuān zhè zhǒng zǐsè.I really like this kind of purple.
- 雨婷 Yuting志强，你覺得這件適合我嗎？Zhìqiáng, nǐ juéde zhè jiàn shìhé wǒ ma?Zhiqiang, do you think this suits me?
- 志强 Zhiqiang是的，這顏色很襯你的皮膚。Shì de, zhè yánsè hěn chèn nǐ de pífū.Yes, this color really complements your skin.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “purple” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 紫, 紺, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
