Definitions

lán (adjective) blue
lán (noun) indigo plant

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "蓝", representing the color blue, evolved from its traditional form "藍" which originally referred specifically to the indigo plant, a source for dye. Its structure combines the grass radical at the top, indicating a plant-based origin, with the phonetic component "監" below that provided its ancient pronunciation. Over time, the application of the character shifted from denoting the botanical source to primarily signifying the rich blue dye derived from it, and eventually broadened to encompass the color blue in general. The simplified form "蓝" retains the grass radical but alters the phonetic element to "监", yet the character's fundamental link to the color, rooted in its etymological past, continues to define its modern usage.

Etymology Hide

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)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

色很漂亮。

Lán sè hěn piàoliang.

The color blue is very beautiful.

我最喜欢天。

Wǒ zuì xǐhuan lán tiān.

I like the blue sky the most.

请打开牙。

Qǐng dǎkāi lányá.

Please turn on the Bluetooth.

色毛衣适合你。

Lán sè máoyī shìhé nǐ.

The blue sweater suits you.

莓比草莓小。

Lánméi bǐ cǎoméi xiǎo.

Blueberries are smaller than strawberries.

他望着色的海。

Tā wàngzhe lán sè de hǎi.

He is gazing at the blue sea.

公司有了新图。

Gōngsī yǒule xīn lántú.

The company has a new blueprint.

那片色的湖水,平静得像一面镜子。

Nà piàn lán sè de hú shuǐ, píngjìng de xiàng yí miàn jìngzi.

That expanse of blue lake water is as calm as a mirror.