Definitions

huī (adjective) gray
huī (noun) ash; dust
huī (adjective) discouraged; dejected

Etymology

Depicts a hand () picking ashes left over from a fire ().

About

The character 灰 denotes ash or the color gray. Its structure places the upper component 𠂇, representing a right hand, above the semantic radical 火, meaning fire. This arrangement depicts a hand handling or sifting through fire's remains, pointing to the powdery residue left after combustion. This core meaning of ash naturally extended to describe the pale, dusty color of that substance. Metaphorically, 灰 also describes psychological states of being disheartened or hopeless, paralleling an extinguished fire with the absence of inner passion.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

天空是色的。

Tiān kōng shì huī sè de.

The sky is grey.

桌子上有很多尘。

Zhuō zi shàng yǒu hěn duō huī chén.

There is a lot of dust on the table.

他考试失败后很心。

Tā kǎo shì shī bài hòu hěn huī xīn.

He was very discouraged after failing the exam.

大火之后只剩烬。

Dà huǒ zhī hòu zhǐ shèng huī jìn.

After the big fire, only ashes remained.

今天的天气很暗。

Jīn tiān de tiān qì hěn huī àn.

Today's weather is gloomy.

工人们正在用石粉刷墙壁。

Gōng rén men zhèng zài yòng shí huī fěn shuā qiáng bì.

The workers are using lime to whitewash the walls.

他的头发已经变得白了。

Tā de tóu fā yǐ jīng biàn dé huī bái le.

His hair has turned grey.

即使遇到挫折,我们也不应该心丧气。

Jí shǐ yù dào cuò zhé, wǒ men yě bù yīng gāi huī xīn sàng qì.

Even if we encounter setbacks, we should not become discouraged.