![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2028\/05\/the-meaning-of-colors-in-china.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In both tradition and everyday life in China, each color has specific sensations and messages associated with it, as happens in every culture; at times there are rather “literal” and universal meanings, other times they’re exclusive to the charming and “strange” (for us) Chinese culture.<\/p>\n
Three colors are particularly interesting: red, which could be considered the Chinese national color, and the pairing of black and white, which makes one of the most well-known symbols in Chinese cultures, the Dao.<\/p>\n
What meaning do these (and other colors) have for the Chinese? We’ll try to understand it by means of the language \u2013 with proverbs and expressions<\/a> as well as common and rarer more poetic uses.<\/p>\n Red, almost always written with the character \u7ea2 (h\u00f3ng), and even rarely with \u8d64 (ch\u00ec) and \u6731 (zh\u016b), is a color that’s particularly dear to the Chinese and is mainly tied to good things and holidays: for the rest of us, we too have our “red days” on the calendar… an expression born from the color that differentiates holidays from “normal” ones.<\/strong><\/p>\n Returning to China, the Chinese flag is red, and red is the color that dominates all photos of the Chinese New Year<\/a>, the Spring Holiday (\u6625\u8282, Ch\u00fanji\u00e9), where clothing, lanterns, decorations, dragons, streamers and so on sparkle: all to attract good luck.<\/p>\n Babies and Chinese kids (even older ones) anxiously await a gift in one of the famous red envelopes containing money \u7ea2\u5305 (h\u00f3ngb\u0101o), literally meaning “red wrapping\u201d. <\/p>\n Good luck can also be called \u7ea2\u8fd0 (h\u00f3ngy\u00f9n), \u201cred luck\u201d, and coming into a fortunate period of one’s life is then called \u8d70\u7ea2\u8fd0 (z\u01d2u ho\u0144gy\u00f9n) \u201cwalking in red luck\u201d. <\/p>\n \u7ea2\u706b (h\u00f3nghuo) \u201cred fire\u201d, is an expression that means \u201cthriving, prosperous, vital\u201d \u2013 particularly when referring to business. The Chinese believe that it brings much good luck to start off on the right foot, and possibly, \u201cin red\u201d: a deal made on the first day of the year is called \u7ea2\u76d8 (ho\u0144gp\u00e1n) (\u201cred dish\u201d), and is considered an excellent omen for the entire year to come; for the rest, a commercial enterprise that starts well is said to open their doors in red, \u5f00\u95e8\u7ea2 (k\u0101im\u00e9n h\u00f3ng). For us, a business that’s “in the red” is something to worry about.<\/p>\n A bonus for a business’ shareholders<\/a>, or for a particularly productive employee is called \u7ea2\u5229 (ho\u0144gl\u00ec) \u201cred profit\u201d, while \u201cdividing the red\u201d \u5206\u7ea2 (f\u0113nho\u0144g) really means \u201cdividing the profits\u201d.<\/p>\n \u6ee1\u5802\u7ea2 (m\u01cent\u00e1ngho\u0144g) (full\u2013hall\u2013red), can have a double meaning: in a literal sense, it means \u201cparty decorations\u201d, at a house or hall, particularly for a happy event; but, metaphorically it also means “to have success in everything that one does”, to have “red everywhere\u201d.<\/p>\n A celebrity, or someone who is in the graces of someone that’s truly powerful, could be called a \u7ea2\u4eba (ho\u0144gr\u00e9n), \u201cred person\u201d, while for an extremely popular person there’s the phrase \u7ea2\u5f97\u53d1\u7d2b (h\u00f3ng de f\u0101z\u01d0): \u201cso red as to turn purple\u201d, so famous that red is no longer enough to describe them.<\/p>\n In Chinese tradition, red is also the color of marriage<\/a>. In ancient arranged weddings, a matchmaker had a fundamental role \u7ea2\u5a18 (h\u00f3ngni\u00e1ng), the \u201cred aunt\u201d that cared for putting the families of the newlyweds in contact with one another; another Chinese tradition says that the destiny of the lovers is represented by a “red thread\u201d \u7ea2\u7ebf (h\u00f3ngxi\u00e0n). <\/p>\n Socialist and revolutionary tradition, which insists a lot on the symbolism and unifying value of this color, has used red as their flag and sign of recognition. A person loyal to the socialist cause has a “red heart” \u7ea2\u5fc3 (h\u00f3ngx\u012bn), but when they become so “red” as to become an example for all, now you’re talking about a \u7ea2\u65d7 (h\u00f3ngq\u00ed) \u201csocialist flag\u201d, perhaps even distinguishing oneself in singing “red songs\u201d \u7ea2\u8272\u6b4c\u66f2 (h\u00f3ngs\u00e8 g\u0113q\u01d4), the revolutionary songs of Chinese<\/a> socialism.<\/p>\n Mao Zedong himself was called by the name \u7ea2\u592a\u9633 (hongt\u00e0iy\u00e1ng), \u201cred sun\u201d, while his writings are known as \u7ea2\u5b9d\u4e66 (h\u00f3ngb\u01ceosh\u016b), the \u201cprecious red books\u201d. The party’s confidential documents are even today still called \u7ea2\u5934\u6587\u4ef6 (h\u00f3ngt\u00f3u w\u00e9nji\u00e0n) \u201credheaded documents\u201d and the party’s power is literally “red power\u201d \u7ea2\u8272\u653f\u6743 (h\u00f3ngs\u00e8 zh\u00e8ngqu\u00e1n).<\/p>\n A natural reddening of the face gives the idea of beauty, youth and femininity: \u9762\u8272\u7ea2\u6da6 (mi\u00e0ns\u00e8 h\u00f3ngr\u00f9n) \u201cthe color of the red face is soft\u201d is a typical phrase that indicates a rosy complexion in a healthy baby or young girl; \u7ea2\u989c (h\u00f3ngy\u00e1n) \u201cred color\u201d indicates a “beautiful woman” while the accessories that she might wear could be called \u7ea2\u88c5 (h\u00f3ngzhu\u0101ng), \u201cred ornaments\u201d.<\/p>\n To redden or become red however is also a physical reaction to various contrasting emotions: if it’s true that we redden when blushing, embarrassed or emotional, we also become red when our rage becomes so strong that it manifests itself in our face. <\/p>\n When a face turns red \u7ea2\u8138 (h\u00f3ngli\u01cen), or even \u8138\u7ea2 (li\u01cenh\u00f3ng), the Chinese also communicate the same emotions. One can become completely red in the face, \u901a\u7ea2 (t\u014dngh\u00f3ng), if the emotion is truly strong; at times it is so strong that besides the face, even the ears can turn red, and in such a case you can use the expression \u9762\u7ea2\u8033\u8d64 (mi\u00e0nh\u00f3ng\u2019\u011brch\u00ec). When furious, besides a red face the neck can also thicken, in which case you can use \u8138\u7ea2\u8116\u5b50\u7c97 (li\u01cenh\u00f3ng b\u00f3zi c\u016b). <\/p>\n Jealousy, which according to Shakespeare is \u201ca green eyed monster\u201d, in Chinese is called \u201cthe sickness of the red eyes\u201d, \u7ea2\u773c\u75c5 (h\u00f3ngy\u01cenb\u00ecng) \u2013 which however could also simply indicate conjunctivitis…<\/p>\n As in the West, red can also give the idea of danger: when a light turns red \u7ea2\u706f (h\u00f3ngd\u0113ng), likely there’s something in the engine that isn’t working or something is about to explode… lastly, \u201cto turn on a red light\u201d \u4eae\u7ea2\u706f (li\u00e0ng h\u00f3ngd\u0113ng) can mean “to prohibit” or “come to a critical situation\u201d. <\/p>\n White \u767d (b\u00e1i) is universally considered the color of purity: \u6e05\u767d (q\u012bngb\u00e1i), \u201cclear white\u201d, is actually the adjective “pure, clean\u201d, but can also mean \u201cinnocent\u201d. When doubled, \u6e05\u6e05\u767d\u767d (q\u012bngq\u012bngb\u00e1ib\u00e1i) means “to have clean hands”, or to be completely innocent. <\/p>\n White is also tied to the idea of simplicity, such as when one speaks of \u767d\u996d (b\u00e1if\u00e0n) \u201cwhite rice, boiled without seasoning\u201d or also \u767d\u8bdd (b\u00e1ihu\u00e0) \u201cwhite word\u201d, which indicates colloquial Chinese.<\/p>\n In China its also said that white \u767d (b\u00e1i) represents mourning, and in fact \u767d\u4e8b (b\u00e1ish\u00ec) a \u201cwhite event\u201d, indicates a funeral, and can be combined with red to collectively indicate weddings and funerals: \u7ea2\u767d\u559c\u4e8b (h\u00f3ngb\u00e1i x\u01d0sh\u00ec). The bones of the dead are therefore called \u767d\u9aa8 (b\u00e1ig\u01d4), \u201cwhite bones\u201d.<\/p>\n Actually, the exact color of mourning is \u7d20 (s\u00f9), which denotes the color of raw, untouched fabric (usually yellowish or fiber color), not pure, shining white; among other things it’s the same character that is used to indicate those who eat vegetarian food, \u5403\u7d20 (ch\u012bs\u00f9). <\/p>\n White is also connected to the idea of no charge: \u5403\u767d\u996d (ch\u012b b\u00e1if\u00e0n), \u5403\u767d\u98df (ch\u012b b\u00e1ish\u00ed), \u767d\u5403 (b\u00e1ich\u012b) are all expressions that mean “to eat free\u201d (depending on the situation, it could also mean “to scrounge\u201d \u2026), \u767d\u98df (b\u00e1ish\u00ed) are food or drink gotten for free, \u767d\u9001 (b\u00e1is\u00f2ng) means to give as a gift, and lastly, \u767d\u62ff (b\u00e1in\u00e1) means to “take without paying\u201d \u2026 also as in \u201cto bum\u201d in this sense.<\/p>\n White also seems to be, in a certain sense, the opposite of red: where red brings gain and profit, and white indicates loss, waste. \u767d\u767d (b\u00e1ib\u00e1i) is often used as an adverb to indicate “in vain\u201d. The character \u201cwhite\u201d, added to a verb, often denotes \u201cin vain\u201d: \u767d\u8d39 (b\u00e1if\u00e8i), \u201cto spend in white\u201d (to waste), often the energies \u767d\u8d39\u529b\u6c14 (b\u00e1if\u00e8i l\u00ecqi) or \u767d\u8d39\u52b2 (b\u00e1if\u00e8ij\u00ecn), or even \u767d\u5fd9 (b\u00e1im\u00e1ng) \u201cto work in a vacuum\u201d. A little like when we spend the night in white (without resting) or end up white\u2026 without bringing home \u201cthe result\u201d.<\/p>\n \u767d\u5b57 (b\u00e1iz\u00ec), \u201cwhite characters\u201d, are characters written or pronounced badly: a text full of errors is a “succession of white characters\u201d, \u767d\u5b57\u8fde\u7bc7 (b\u00e1iz\u00ecli\u00e1npi\u0101n).<\/p>\n The verb \u660e\u767d (m\u00edngbai) which means “to understand”, literally means “clear white”: another meaning of this color is, in fact, “understandable, clear\u201d. For example, \u8868\u767d (bi\u01ceob\u00e1i) can mean \u201cto declare oneself\u201d and, curiously, even the english verb has the idea of “clarity”, which goes more for colors than for situations. <\/p>\n Something that suddenly comes to light, like a revealed secret, is said to be \u5927\u767d (d\u00e0b\u00e1i), literally “big white\u201d, while what is for us “written in black and white” is indicated by the expression \u767d\u7eb8\u9ed1\u5b57 (b\u00e1izh\u01d0h\u0113iz\u00ec), \u201cwhite papers and black characters\u201d: unequivocal. Lastly, living a dream is called \u767d\u65e5\u68a6 (b\u00e1ir\u00ecm\u00e8ng), \u201ca white sky dream\u201d.<\/p>\n White hairs, lastly, also represent old age, as in the following phrases, in which “white head” and “white hairs\u201d are actually used as images of growing old: \u9752\u6625\u6613\u8fc7\uff0c\u767d\u53d1\u96be\u9976 (Q\u012bngch\u016bn y\u00ec gu\u00f2, b\u00e1i f\u01ce n\u00e1n r\u00e1o), which means: \u201cThe Spring of youth passes quickly, and it’s hard to avoid white hair\u201d.<\/p>\n \u767d\u5934\u5230\u8001 (b\u00e1it\u00f3ud\u00e0ol\u01ceo) (\u201cwhite hairs lead to old age\u201d), \u767d\u5934\u5055\u8001 (b\u00e1it\u00f3uxi\u00e9l\u01ceo) (\u201cwhite hairs along with old age\u201d) are two alternative versions of the same \u6210\u8bed (ch\u00e9ngy\u01d4), a four character expression that means “to happily grow old together\u201d, which is used when speaking about husbands and wives and wishing them a long life as a couple.<\/p>\n Traditionally, black (\u9ed1, h\u0113i) is the color of darkness and death, but also honor, as seen in the facial makeup However in language, expressions that refer to crime, things that are illegal, badness, are more widespread: the mafia and other criminal organizations are called \u9ed1\u793e\u4f1a (h\u0113ish\u00e8hu\u00ec) \u201cblack societies\u201d, which operate on the black market, \u9ed1\u5e02 (h\u0113ish\u00ec), making dirty deals, \u201cblack\u201d, \u9ed1\u4ea4\u6613 (h\u0113iji\u0101oy\u00ec), and reinvesting dirty money \u9ed1\u94b1 (h\u0113iqi\u00e1n), \u201cblack money\u201d. <\/p>\n The criminals then speak a secret language, \u9ed1\u8bdd (h\u0113ihu\u00e0) \u201cblack word\u201d, have secret meetings, \u9ed1\u4f1a (h\u0113ihu\u00ec), exchange illegal merchandise, \u9ed1\u8d27 (h\u0113ihu\u00f2); once they were able to meet in \u201cblack inns\u201d \u9ed1\u5e97 (h\u0113idi\u00e0n), where bandits gathered to celebrate their own wrongdoing. <\/p>\n All such wrongdoers walk along the “black road\u201d, \u9ed1\u9053 (h\u0113id\u00e0o), the road of crime\u2026 and those who felt a “black heart” beat in their chest \u9ed1\u5fc3 (h\u0113ix\u012bn) were free to join them, following the same \u201cblack road\u201d, \u8d70\u9ed1\u9053 (z\u01d2u h\u0113id\u00e0o).<\/p>\n There could be a \u201cblack hand\u201d \u9ed1\u624b (h\u0113ish\u01d2u), which manipulates others from the shadows, dragging them into suspicious affairs or scandals \u9ed1\u5e55 (h\u0113im\u00f9), or those who sully the reputation of others, \u201cmarking them in black\u201d \u62b9\u9ed1 (m\u01d2h\u0113i), while those who are found guilty of something they haven’t done “carry a black bowl\u201d, \u80cc\u9ed1\u9505 (b\u0113i h\u0113igu\u014d). Lastly, those who enjoy all this are using black humor, \u9ed1\u8272\u5e7d\u9ed8 (h\u0113is\u00e8 y\u014dum\u00f2) \u2026<\/p>\n Yellow was the color of the mystical Yellow Emperor \u9ec4\u5e1d (Hu\u00e1ngd\u00ec), the Yellow River \u9ec4\u6cb3 (Hu\u00e1ng H\u00e9) and the yellow and fertile land \u9ec4\u58e4 (hu\u00e1ngr\u01ceng) around which the Chinese civilization was born. Even today there’s the common thought that the Chinese are “yellow” even though the majority of their complexions take on this coloring only when they tan (a reason why young girls in particular, make widespread use of umbrellas, masks and creams and hide from the sun almost as if they were vampires\u2026). <\/p>\n The color yellow is also tied to another setting that is much less “noble\u201d: \u201cyellow\u201d books and films \u9ec4\u4e66 (hu\u00e1ngsh\u016b) and \u9ec4\u8272\u7535\u5f71 (hu\u00e0ngs\u00e8 di\u00e0ny\u01d0ng) are not like our crime shows, but correspond to those whom we would refer to chromatically as “red light\u201d.<\/p>\n To conclude, one last color: \u9752\u8272 (q\u012bngs\u00e8) is a tone halfway between green and blue; to see a person with eyes of this color, \u9752\u773c (q\u012bngy\u01cen), means to treat them favorably. <\/p>\n If you’ve come this far, you’ve likely looked at my article with “blue-green” eyes, so there’s nothing else for me to say other than thanks and see you next time!<\/p>\n Photo Credits: In both tradition and everyday life in China, each color has specific sensations and messages associated with it, as happens in every culture; at times there are rather “literal” and universal meanings, other times they’re exclusive to the charming and “strange” (for us) Chinese culture. Three colors are particularly interesting: red, which could be considered […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":17061,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[384,66],"class_list":["post-17022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-society-history","tag-newsletter","tag-learn-chinese"],"yoast_head":"\nRed: Luck, business, weddings<\/h2>\n
Socialist red<\/h3>\n
Red face<\/h3>\n
White<\/h2>\n
Black<\/h2>\n
\n of characters of great moral integrity in Chinese theater. <\/p>\nOther colors and curiosities<\/h2>\n
![\"Creative](\"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon\/cc.png\")
<\/a> Forbidden City Meridian Gate<\/a> by hani.img<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"