About
The Chinese word **漆黑** (qīhēi), meaning "pitch-black" or "completely dark," is formed through a metaphorical and descriptive compound structure. The first character **漆** (qī) means "lacquer" or "paint," specifically referring to the dark, glossy lacquer traditionally used in Chinese crafts. The second character **黑** (hēi) means "black." Together, they create a vivid simile: the darkness is "as black as lacquer," implying an intense, deep, and uniform blackness, much like the finish of polished lacquer. This formation follows a common pattern in Chinese where a concrete noun (**漆**) modifies an adjective (**黑**) to intensify and poeticize its meaning.