Definitions

(adjective) purple; violet

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 紫, meaning purple, is a phono-semantic compound formed from the semantic component 糸, indicating silk or thread and thus associating with dyeing, and the phonetic component 此, which provides pronunciation. Etymologically, it originated in reference to purple dyes, often derived from sources like certain mollusks, used in ancient textile production. Over time, the meaning of 紫 shifted from describing these dyes to specifically denoting the color purple itself, and it later carried connotations of nobility within cultural contexts, though its fundamental definition remained color-based. The structural arrangement of 糸 and 此 has remained unchanged in its standard written form.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这件衣服是色的。

Zhè jiàn yīfú shì zǐsè de.

This piece of clothing is purple.

她买了一个色的包。

Tā mǎi le yī gè zǐsè de bāo.

She bought a purple bag.

葡萄是色的水果。

Pútáo shì zǐsè de shuǐguǒ.

Grapes are purple fruits.

色的花朵很美丽。

Zǐsè de huāduǒ hěn měilì.

Purple flowers are very beautiful.

傍晚的天空呈现色。

Bàngwǎn de tiānkōng chéngxiàn zǐsè.

The evening sky shows a purple color.

这种色颜料很昂贵。

Zhè zhǒng zǐsè yánliào hěn ángguì.

This type of purple pigment is very expensive.

菜汤是一道家常菜。

Zǐcài tāng shì yī dào jiācháng cài.

Seaweed soup is a common home-cooked dish.

外线对皮肤有伤害。

Zǐwàixiàn duì pífū yǒu shānghài.

Ultraviolet rays are harmful to the skin.