漆

qī

桼 + 氵

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

qī (noun) paint; lacquer

qī (verb) to paint; to lacquer

Etymology

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

About

漆 designates lacquer, the sap of the lacquer tree, or paint. It is a phono-semantic compound: 氵 (water), the left-side radical, marks its liquid state, and 桼 (qī) on the right supplies the pronunciation. Historically, 桼 was the original character, a pictograph of sap oozing from a tree (木). When the water radical was added, the modern 漆 emerged. This thick liquid was prized for coating objects, giving a durable and protective finish. Over time, the character also took on verbal use meaning 'to paint or coat,' and adjectival use describing a pitch-black color, the deep hue of quality raw lacquer.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这辆车是漆黑的。

Zhè liàng chē shì qīhēi de.

This car is pitch black.

他正在给家具刷油漆。

Tā zhèngzài gěi jiājù shuā yóuqī.

He is painting the furniture.

工艺品表面涂了生漆。

Gōngyìpǐn biǎomiàn túle shēngqī.

The surface of the handicraft is coated with raw lacquer.

新刷的油漆还没有干透。

Xīn shuā de yóuqī hái méiyǒu gàn tòu.

The newly applied paint is not completely dry yet.

这种漆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.

艺术家用漆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漆。

Xiūfù gǔ jiànzhù xūyào zhuānyòng de bǎohù qī.

Restoring ancient buildings requires specialized protective paint.

这款汽车漆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.

Related Characters

Component: 桼

Component: 氵

漆