Meanings of 黑
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About 黑
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Podcast: 黑
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AI Study Notes for 黑
黑 (hēi) vs 暗 (àn) — use 黑 when referring to the color black or its connotations, while 暗 emphasizes low light or lack of brightness.
Imagine a black cat sneaking through the night. The character 黑 looks like a cat's tail curling upwards, suggesting the stealthiness associated with darkness. Remember 'hēi' sounds like 'hey,' as if you are calling out to the cat in the dark.
Be careful not to confuse 黑 with other similar characters like 赫 (hè) which means 'bright.' While 黑 can be used informally, in formal contexts, it is often better to use it in phrases rather than alone. Common collocations include 黑暗 (hēi'àn - dark) and 黑市 (hēishì - black market).
As an HSK Level 2 word, 黑 connects well with other color words like 红 (hóng - red) and 白 (bái - white). Focus on using it in descriptive sentences and familiarize yourself with common phrases that include this character.
In Chinese culture, black can symbolize power and authority but also danger and negativity. It is often associated with mourning and is viewed differently than in many Western contexts, where black is commonly seen as stylish or elegant.
Learners often confuse 黑 (hēi) with 绿 (lǜ - green) or 亮 (liàng - bright). For example, saying '我喜欢黑颜色' (Wǒ xǐhuān hēi yánsè - I like black color) is correct, but saying '我喜欢黑亮' is incorrect; instead, use '亮黑色' to mean 'shiny black.'
Pronunciation of 黑
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Etymology of 黑
Pictograph of a person whose face has been tattooed. In ancient China criminals were punished by having their faces permanently marked. Later writers reanalyzed the character as a chimney being blackened by fire, so the bottom component was changed to loo
A man's face blacked by soot from a fire 灬
Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 黑
Identify the Components
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Write 黑
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Practice writing 黑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 黑
黑 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 13 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
天____了。
It's gotten dark.
Example Sentences for 黑 (10)
Cultural Notes for 黑
In Chinese culture, black can symbolize power and authority but also danger and negativity. It is often associated with mourning and is viewed differently than in many Western contexts, where black is commonly seen as stylish or elegant.
Word Family of 黑
Compound Meaning
What does 嘿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 黑
Common phrases include 黑暗 (hēi'àn - darkness) and 黑市 (hēishì - black market).