黃色
wong4 sik1
The English phrase yellow is expressed in Cantonese as 黃色 (wong4 sik1).
黃色 is used to mean having yellow as its color. It can function as an adjective to describe things or as a noun referring to the color itself.
Meaning: having yellow as its color (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 黃色 is composed of 黃, meaning yellow and 色, meaning color.
Which one should you use?
The full term 黃色 (wong4 sik1) means yellow color, but you can also use the single character 黃 (wong4) in many contexts, particularly when describing objects directly.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 黃色 as an adjective to describe a noun in a sentence, it is often followed by the possessive particle 嘅 (ge3).
How do you pronounce it?
wong4 sik1
Did you know?
- Historically, yellow was the imperial color of China and was reserved exclusively for the Emperor. Commoners could be punished or even executed for wearing 黃色 clothing during certain dynasties.
- In Cantonese, the word 黃色 (wong4 sik1) is frequently used as a euphemism for pornography or erotic content. Using it to describe a book or movie can imply the content is 'X-rated' rather than just the color of the cover.
- In traditional Chinese medicine and the Five Elements theory, 黃色 is associated with the element of Earth. It is believed to correspond to the spleen and stomach organs in the body.
Examples in context
- 本書係黃色嘅。The book is yellow.This sentence shows how to use 黃色 to describe a book.Tatoeba #5761227 by nickyeow, translation #5256981 by solejar
- Tom有架黃色跑車。Tom owns a yellow sports car.This sentence shows 黃色 describing a sports car.Tatoeba #4826850 by kaenif, translation #681678 by Source_VOA
- 我種咗好多花，有啲係紅色嘅，有啲係黃色嘅。I have a lot of flowers. Some are red and some are yellow.This sentence uses the construction 黃色嘅 to describe flowers.Tatoeba #426958 by nickyeow, translation #254917 by Swift
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
雅婷 and 家明 are looking at some fruit at a market.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting呢啲檸檬係黃色嘅。ni1 di1 ning4 mang1 hai6 wong4 sik1 ge3.These lemons are yellow.
- 家明 Ka Ming係呀，好熟。hai6 aa3, hou2 suk6.Yes, they are very ripe.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting家明，你買唔買？gaa1 ming4, nei5 maai5 m4 maai5?Ka Ming, are you buying them?
- 家明 Ka Ming買啦，黃色嘅好食。maai5 laa1, wong4 sik1 ge3 hou2 sik6.Let's buy them, the yellow ones taste good.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
