Chinese Character: 黑
1. Character Basics
Radical: 黑/hēi (black) (itself a radical)
Stroke Count: 12 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Hēi (First tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Black; dark
Extended Meaning: Evil; illegal; secret; dark-colored; night
Additional Notes: Often used literally to describe the color black, and metaphorically to describe negative or secret things.
4. Common Words
- 黑色 (hēi sè) - Black color
她喜欢穿黑色的衣服。(Tā xǐhuan chuān hēisè de yīfu.) - She likes to wear black clothes.
- 黑暗 (hēi àn) - Dark; darkness
房间里一片黑暗。(Fángjiān lǐ yīpiàn hēi'àn.) - The room is in complete darkness.
- 黑板 (hēi bǎn) - Blackboard
老师在黑板上写字。(Lǎoshī zài hēibǎn shàng xiězì.) - The teacher writes on the blackboard.
- 黑夜 (hēi yè) - Night; dark night
黑夜降临了。(Hēiyè jiànglín le.) - Night has fallen.
- 黑手 (hēi shǒu) - Hidden hand; evil force
这个事件背后有黑手操纵。(Zhège shìjiàn bèihòu yǒu hēishǒu cāozòng.) - There is a hidden hand manipulating this incident.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective
Usage:
- As a noun: referring to the color black
我喜欢黑，不喜欢白。(Wǒ xǐhuan hēi, bù xǐhuan bái.) - I like black, not white.
- As an adjective: describing something as black or dark
他有一头黑发。(Tā yǒu yītóu hēi fà.) - He has black hair.
Common Structures:
- 黑 + noun: 黑咖啡 (hēi kāfēi) - Black coffee
- 黑 + 色: 黑色 (hēi sè) - Black color
- 黑 + 形容词: 黑亮 (hēi liàng) - Black and shiny
Note: When used metaphorically, "黑" often has negative connotations, such as 黑市 (hēi shì - black market) or 黑名单 (hēi míngdān - blacklist).
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the color black has both positive and negative associations, depending on the context.
- Traditional Symbolism: In traditional Chinese culture, black is associated with water element, the north direction, and winter season.
- Wedding Customs: Unlike Western weddings where black is associated with mourning, in traditional Chinese weddings, the bride often wears red, while black is sometimes worn by the groom.
- Modern Usage: Today, black is a popular color in fashion and design, symbolizing elegance and sophistication.
- Philosophical Meaning: In Taoism, black represents the mysterious and the unknown, complementing white in the concept of yin and yang.
Despite some negative connotations in certain contexts, black remains an important and versatile color in Chinese culture.
7. Example Sentence
Sentence 1:
他的眼睛是黑色的。(Tā de yǎnjing shì hēisè de.)
His eyes are black.
Sentence 2:
天黑了，我们该回家了。(Tiān hēi le, wǒmen gāi huíjiā le.)
It's getting dark, we should go home.
Sentence 3:
不要在黑暗中看书。(Bùyào zài hēi'àn zhōng kànshū.)
Don't read in the dark.
8. Memory Tips
1. Structure Memory: "黑" has 12 strokes. Imagine it as a person (the top part) sitting under a shelter (the middle part) with fire (the four dots at the bottom), creating darkness.
2. Color Association: Associate the character with the color black. Whenever you see something black, think of the character "黑".
3. Word Formation: Learn common words with "黑" like 黑色, 黑暗, 黑板 to reinforce your memory.
4. Stroke Order Practice: Practice writing the character in the correct stroke order, paying special attention to the four dots at the bottom.
5. Cultural Connection: Remember that "黑" has both literal and metaphorical meanings in Chinese culture, which can help you understand its usage in different contexts.