Definitions

huáng (adjective) yellow
huáng (adjective) pornographic

Etymology

Simplified form of . Pictograph of a person with a large belly, representing someone deformed. The component was added to imply sighing. Based on the original meaning "physically disabled", now written as . Later meaning shifted to "yellow; sallow", a skin color associated with illness.

About

The character 黄 (traditional: 黃) originated as an ideogram depicting a person wearing a jade pendant or ornamental piece at the waist. Over time, its structure stylized; the modern form features the radical 艹 (cǎo) or its variants at the top, though it is traditionally classified under the radical 黄 itself. The meaning shifted from the physical ornament to denote the color yellow, associated with loess earth, ripe crops, and gold. It has also come to symbolize elements of traditional culture, imperial authority in historical contexts, and more recently, slang references to specific media content.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Xin dynasty (9-23 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这件衣服是色的。

Zhè jiàn yīfu shì huángsè de.

This piece of clothing is yellow.

花园里有色的花。

Huāyuán li yǒu huángsè de huā.

There are yellow flowers in the garden.

秋天树叶变了。

Qiūtiān shùyè biàn huáng le.

In autumn, the tree leaves turn yellow.

妈妈买了几根瓜。

Māma mǎi le jǐ gēn huángguā.

Mom bought a few cucumbers.

河是中国的母亲河。

Huáng Hé shì Zhōngguó de mǔqīn hé.

The Yellow River is the mother river of China.

盘子里有面包和油。

Pánzi li yǒu miànbāo hé huángyóu.

There is bread and butter on the plate.

夕阳把天空染成了金色。

Xīyáng bǎ tiānkōng rǎn chéng le jīnhuángsè.

The setting sun dyed the sky golden yellow.

他们选择了一个道吉日举行婚礼。

Tāmen xuǎnzé le yīgè huángdàojírì jǔxíng hūnlǐ.

They chose an auspicious day to hold the wedding ceremony.