About
The character 朱 originated as a pictograph of a tree (木) with a short horizontal stroke added to the center, marking the trunk. This pointed to the original meaning "tree trunk", a word that later acquired the distinct written form 株. Through phonetic borrowing, the same character came to signify vermilion, a brilliant reddish-orange pigment made from cinnabar. The color assumed great cultural importance, used in the decoration of buildings, the carving of official seals, and the marking of imperial documents. Over time, the color meaning overtook the original, and 朱 now functions as the standard term for deep red. It remains a very common family name.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
朱先生是我的老师。
这朵花是朱红色的。
朱砂是一种矿物。
那扇朱门很古老。
她喜欢朱红色的裙子。
朱教授在大学里教历史。
这幅画用了很多朱砂来调色。
在古代，朱门通常代表富贵和权力。
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