Day 4: Colors — Learn Chinese in 30 Days

What You’ll Learn Today

Colors are some of the most useful vocabulary in any language — for shopping, describing things, giving directions. Today you’ll learn all the basic Chinese colors plus a grammar rule that makes using them instantly natural.

The Pattern: Color + 的 + Noun

In Chinese, colors work as adjectives by adding 的 (de) before the noun:

• 红色的苹果 (hóng sè de píng guǒ) — a red apple
• 蓝色的裙子 (lán sè de qún zi) — a blue skirt
• 黑色的包 (hēi sè de bāo) — a black bag

The word 色 (sè) means “color” and attaches to most color words. In casual speech you can often drop 色:

• 红包 (hóng bāo) — literally “red envelope” (a common cultural item)
• 绿茶 (lǜ chá) — green tea
• 黑板 (hēi bǎn) — blackboard

Sentence Patterns

Pattern 1: Asking about color

这是什么颜色？— Zhè shì shén me yán sè? — What color is this?

Pattern 2: Describing color

我喜欢红色。— Wǒ xǐ huān hóng sè. — I like red.

Pattern 3: Requesting a specific color

有没有蓝色的？— Yǒu méi yǒu lán sè de? — Do you have it in blue?

This last pattern is gold for shopping. Use it constantly.

Pronunciation Tips

绿 (lǜ) — the ü sound doesn’t exist in English. Round your lips as if to say “oo,” then try to say “ee.” It’s the same sound in French “tu” or German “über.”

黄 (huáng) — starts with a “hw” sound. Think “hwong” with a rising tone.

Cultural Note

In China, red (红色) carries enormous positive meaning — luck, celebration, prosperity, joy. Wedding dresses are traditionally red (not white). Red envelopes (红包 hóng bāo) are given at Chinese New Year filled with money as gifts.

White (白色) is the traditional color of mourning in Chinese culture. Bringing white flowers to a Chinese friend’s home for a celebratory occasion could be misread as an ominous gift. For happy occasions, stick to red, gold (金色 jīn sè), or pink.

Green hat alert: Telling a man he’s “wearing a green hat” (戴绿帽子 dài lǜ mào zi) is a serious insult in Chinese — it means his partner is cheating on him. Avoid this phrase.

Practice Exercise

Match the color to its Chinese:

1. Red → ___
2. Blue → ___
3. Black → ___
4. White → ___
5. Green → ___

Now try: “Do you have this in red?” in Chinese.

Answers: 1) 红色 2) 蓝色 3) 黑色 4) 白色 5) 绿色 | Sentence: 有没有红色的？