About
颜 is the simplified form of 顏 and a phono-semantic compound. The semantic component 页 (yè) on the right, originally a pictograph of a human head, ties the meaning to the face, forehead, and facial features, while the phonetic component 彦 (yàn) on the left supplies the pronunciation. The character primarily denotes the face, facial expressions, and personal prestige, but over time its sense extended to the appearance of objects and eventually to the vivid colors and pigments used in painting and dyeing.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个颜色真好看。
她的容颜很美。
他露出了笑颜。
这关系到我的颜面。
天空的颜色是蓝色的。
我喜欢用颜料画画。
他不顾颜面地大声争吵。
这种颜料的颜色非常持久，而且环保。
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