About
The character "灰" structurally integrates the fire radical with a component historically representing a hand or action upon it, conceptually conveying the residue left after burning. Its original meaning centered specifically on physical ash, the powdery substance remaining from consumed fire, which then logically extended to describe the characteristic gray color of that residue. This chromatic association further expanded to apply to any object or shade of similar hue, and by metaphorical transfer, to states of dimness, dullness, or diminished spirit, reflecting a semantic drift from a concrete substance to abstract qualities of color and mood without significant alteration to its written form.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
天空是灰色的。
桌子上有很多灰尘。
他考试失败后很灰心。
大火之后只剩灰烬。
今天的天气很灰暗。
工人们正在用石灰粉刷墙壁。
他的头发已经变得灰白了。
即使遇到挫折，我们也不应该灰心丧气。