超白
chāo bái
The English phrase 'super white' is translated into Chinese as 超白 (chāo bái).
The term 超白 is primarily used in industrial and commercial contexts to describe high-transparency materials. A very common application is the compound noun 超白玻璃, which refers to low-iron super white glass.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of the prefix 超 (chāo), meaning 'super' or 'ultra' and 白 (bái), meaning 'white'.
Which one should you use?
While 超白 is a standard term for specific materials, other expressions exist for different nuances: 极白 (jí bái) is used for the concept of being 'extremely white', while the informal terms 超级白 (chāo jí bái) and 白到发光 (bái dào fā guāng) can be used to describe things that are 'super white' or 'white to the point of shining'.
How do you pronounce it?
chāo bái
Did you know?
- In Chinese beauty standards, the desire for skin to be 白 (white) is so strong that the phrase 一白遮三丑 suggests that being 'white' can hide three other flaws.
- While 超白 describes industrial glass, the word 白 (white) can also mean 'in vain' or 'for nothing' in phrases like 白跑一趟, meaning a 'white trip' or wasted journey.
- The prefix 超 (chāo) is used in 超白 to mean 'ultra', but in a different context, it is the standard word for 'overtake' or 'pass' when driving a car.
Examples in context
- 这个新款粉底液能让你的肌肤看起来极白。This new foundation can make your skin look extremely white.
- 这种玻璃是超白的。Zhè zhǒng bōlí shì chāobái de.This kind of glass is super white.
- 我想买超白色的材料。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi chāobáisè de cáiliào.I want to buy super white materials.
- 超白的颜色看起来很高级。Chāobái de yánsè kàn qǐlái hěn gāojí.The super white color looks very high-end.
Example conversation
浩然 and 梓涵 are looking at glass samples for a home renovation.
- 浩然 Haoran梓涵，你看这块超白的玻璃怎么样？Zǐhán, nǐ kàn zhè kuài chāobái de bōlí zěnmeyàng?Zihan, what do you think of this super white glass?
- 梓涵 Zihan看起来非常通透，我很喜欢。Kàn qǐlái fēicháng tōngtòu, wǒ hěn xǐhuān.It looks very clear, I really like it.
- 浩然 Haoran那我们就定这款超白的吧。Nà wǒmen jiù dìng zhè kuǎn chāobái de ba.Then let's settle on this super white one.
- 梓涵 Zihan好，浩然，听你的。Hǎo, Hàorán, tīng nǐ de.Okay, Haoran, I'll follow your lead.
