Definitions

(noun) paint; lacquer
(verb) to paint; to lacquer

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Originally written as , which depicts lacquer or sap oozing out from a varnish tree ().

About

The character "漆" originally refers to the viscous sap harvested from the lacquer tree, which was used to create a durable, glossy coating. Its structure combines the water radical (氵) on the left, indicating a liquid substance, with the component on the right, which historically functioned as a phonetic element and also carried the core meaning of the tree's sap itself. Over centuries, the meaning of the character expanded from denoting the raw material to encompass the processed lacquer, the act of applying it as a varnish, and by extension, the deep black color characteristic of the finished product. The traditional form maintains this original composition, visually anchoring the character to its natural source, while its application broadened to describe any similar protective or decorative coating.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 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

这辆车是黑的。

Zhè liàng chē shì qīhēi de.

This car is pitch black.

他正在给家具刷油

Tā zhèngzài gěi jiājù shuā yóuqī.

He is painting the furniture.

工艺品表面涂了生

Gōngyìpǐn biǎomiàn túle shēngqī.

The surface of the handicraft is coated with raw lacquer.

新刷的油还没有干透。

Xīn shuā de yóuqī hái méiyǒu gàn tòu.

The newly applied paint is not completely dry yet.

这种器的制作工艺很复杂。

Zhè zhǒng qīqì de zhìzuò gōngyì hěn fùzá.

The craftsmanship of this lacquerware is very complex.

艺术家用画技法创作了这幅作品。

Yìshùjiā yòng qīhuà jìfǎ chuàngzuòle zhè fú zuòpǐn.

The artist created this work using lacquer painting techniques.

修复古建筑需要专用的保护

Xiūfù gǔ jiànzhù xūyào zhuānyòng de bǎohù qī.

Restoring ancient buildings requires specialized protective paint.

这款汽车的耐候性经过了严格测试。

Zhè kuǎn qìchē qī de nàihòuxìng jīngguòle yángé cèshì.

The weather resistance of this automotive paint has undergone strict testing.