hung4 sik1紅色红色
Jyutpinghung4 sik1
Yalehùhng sīk
Definition
Red; the color of fresh blood and one of the primary colors.
neutralcolours
How it's used
Colloquially, people often shorten this to 紅 when describing objects like clothes or cars. It carries a strong association with luck and celebration, especially during Lunar New Year when red envelopes are given. Unlike some other colours, it is rarely used to describe skin tone or complexions in a literal sense.
Examples
She is wearing a red shirt today, it is very eye-catching.
Do you like red or blue more?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it to describe a person's face when they are embarrassed or angry, as Cantonese speakers would typically use 紅卜卜 or 塊面紅晒 instead of just saying the person is 紅色.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
