ceng1 si1青絲青丝
Jyutpingceng1 si1
Yalechēng sī
Definition
Black hair, typically used in classical or literary contexts.
writtenbodydescriptions
How it's used
Literary and poetic in nature, this term is rarely used in casual, everyday speech to describe someone's actual hair. It is mostly encountered in songs, novels, or period dramas to evoke a sense of elegance or nostalgia. Using it in a standard conversation might sound overly dramatic or like you are reciting a poem.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Her black hair is really beautiful.
Why did you cut your black hair?
Related words
Common phrases
a head of black hair
black hair and white hair, representing the passage of time
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 青色, which refers to green or blue colors. Despite the character 青, it specifically refers to the deep, lustrous black of healthy hair, not the color green.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
