Definitions

qīng (adjective) blue; green
qīng (adjective) young; youthful
qīng (adjective) black

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

The character 青, representing colors such as blue and green, has an etymology linking it to growth and pigment, historically composed of 生 over 丹, though the contemporary shape resembles 生 over 月. Its semantic range broadened from denoting natural hues to encompassing youth and freshness, as in 青春, and even black in certain idioms like 青丝, reflecting a shift from color specificity to symbolic associations with vitality and nascent states.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 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 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 Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical 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

我喜欢苹果。

Wǒ xǐhuān qīng píngguǒ.

I like green apples.

山绿水很美。

Qīng shān lǜ shuǐ hěn měi.

The green mountains and clear water are very beautiful.

春是宝贵的时光。

Qīngchūn shì bǎoguì de shíguāng.

Youth is precious time.

他穿着色的衬衫。

Tā chuānzhe qīngsè de chènshān.

He is wearing a blue shirt.

少年应该努力学习。

Qīngshàonián yīnggāi nǔlì xuéxí.

Teenagers should study hard.

海湖是中国最大的咸水湖。

Qīnghǎi Hú shì Zhōngguó zuì dà de xiánshuǐ hú.

Qinghai Lake is China's largest saltwater lake.

瓷是中国传统的瓷器。

Qīngcí shì Zhōngguó chuántǒng de cíqì.

Celadon is traditional Chinese porcelain.

蒿素拯救了许多生命。

Qīnghāosù zhěngjiù le xǔduō shēngmìng.

Artemisinin has saved many lives.