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脸色 (liǎn sè) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 5

脸色 (liǎn sè) is a Chinese word: complexion, facial expression. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 脸色

名 míng noun

complexion, facial expression

她今天脸色不太好。

tā jīn tiān liǎn sè bù tài hǎo

She doesn't look well today.

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Word breakdown

脸 liǎn — face

Words with this character (3)

色 sè — color, appearance

Words with this character (23)
  • 1 白色 bái sè — white HSK 2
    • 白 white (the color concept)
    • 色 color (specifies it refers to the color)
    Example

    她今天穿了一件白色的衣服。

    tā jīn tiān chuān le yī jiàn bái sè de yī fu

    She wore a white piece of clothing today.

  • 2 红色 hóng sè — red HSK 2
    • 红 red (the color hue)
    • 色 color
    Example

    她穿着红色的裙子。

    tā chuān zhe hóng sè de qún zi

    She's wearing a red skirt.

  • 3 绿色 lǜ sè — green HSK 2
    • 绿 green (the color itself)
    • 色 color (makes it a noun referring to the color/shade)
    Example

    春天来了，树叶变成了绿色。

    chūn tiān lái le shù yè biàn chéng le lǜ sè

    Spring has come, and the tree leaves have turned green.

  • 4 颜色 yán sè — color HSK 2
    • 颜 appearance, countenance (contributes to visual aspect)
    • 色 color, hue (core meaning)
    Example

    这朵花的颜色很漂亮。

    zhè duǒ huā de yán sè hěn piào liang

    The color of this flower is very beautiful.

  • 5 黑色 hēi sè — black HSK 2
    • 黑 black (the color)
    • 色 color
    Example

    他穿着黑色的衣服。

    tā chuān zhe hēi sè de yī fu

    He is wearing black clothes.

Show more (+18)
  • 6 黄色 huáng sè — yellow HSK 3
    • 黄 yellow (the hue)
    • 色 color
    Example

    她穿了一件黄色的衣服。

    tā chuān le yī jiàn huáng sè de yī fu

    She wore a yellow piece of clothing.

  • 7 景色 jǐng sè — scenery HSK 4
    • 景 scene, view
    • 色 color, appearance
    Example

    这里的景色很美。

    zhè lǐ de jǐng sè hěn měi

    The scenery here is very beautiful.

  • 8 五颜六色 wǔ yán liù sè — colorful, multicolored HSK 5
    • 五 five (representing many/various)
    • 颜 color, hue
    • 六 six (representing many/various)
    • 色 color, shade
    Example

    花园里的花朵五颜六色，非常美丽。

    huā yuán lǐ de huā duǒ wǔ yán liù sè fēi cháng měi lì

    The flowers in the garden are colorful and very beautiful.

  • 9 出色 chū sè — outstanding HSK 5
    • 出 to exceed, to stand out
    • 色 quality, appearance
    Example

    她的表现非常出色。

    tā de biǎo xiàn fēi cháng chū sè

    Her performance was outstanding.

  • 10 彩色 cǎi sè — colored HSK 5
    • 彩 color, variegated
    • 色 color, hue
    Example

    彩色铅笔很好用。

    cǎi sè qiān bǐ hěn hǎo yòng

    Colored pencils are very useful.

  • 11 灰色 huī sè — gray HSK 5
    Example

    他穿着一件灰色的外套。

    tā chuān zhe yī jiàn huī sè de wài tào

    He is wearing a gray coat.

  • 12 特色 tè sè — characteristic HSK 5
    • 特 special, distinctive, unique
    • 色 feature, characteristic, quality
    Example

    这家餐厅的特色菜是北京烤鸭。

    zhè jiā cān tīng de tè sè cài shì Běi jīng kǎo yā

    This restaurant's specialty dish is Peking duck.

  • 13 色彩 sè cǎi — color HSK 5
    • 色 color, hue
    • 彩 colorfulness, brilliance
    Example

    秋天的色彩非常美丽。

    qiū tiān de sè cǎi fēi cháng měi lì

    The colors of autumn are very beautiful.

  • 14 角色 jué sè — role HSK 5
    • 角 role, part (in performance)
    • 色 character, appearance (theatrical sense)
    Example

    他在电影中扮演一个重要角色。

    tā zài diàn yǐng zhōng bàn yǎn yí gè zhòng yào jué sè

    He plays an important role in the movie.

  • 15 棕色 zōng sè — brown HSK 6
    • 棕 palm tree/palm fiber; contributes the brown shade
    • 色 color; indicates this is a color term
    Example

    他穿着一件棕色的外套。

    tā chuān zhe yī jiàn zōng sè de wài tào

    He's wearing a brown coat.

  • 16 形形色色 xíng xíng sè sè — all kinds of HSK 7
    • 形 form, shape (first instance for emphasis)
    • 形 form, shape (repeated for emphasis and completeness)
    • 色 color, type, variety (first instance for emphasis)
    • 色 color, type, variety (repeated for emphasis and completeness)
    Example

    街上有形形色色的人。

    jiē shàng yǒu xíng xíng sè sè de rén

    There are all kinds of people on the street.

  • 17 有声有色 yǒu shēng yǒu sè — vivid and dramatic HSK 7
    • 有 to have (first part of parallel structure)
    • 声 sound, voice (auditory element)
    • 有 to have (second part of parallel structure)
    • 色 color (visual element)
    Example

    他讲故事总是有声有色，大家都爱听。

    tā jiǎng gù shi zǒng shì yǒu shēng yǒu sè dà jiā dōu ài tīng

    He always tells stories vividly and dramatically, everyone loves to listen.

  • 18 本色 běn sè — true nature, true colors HSK 7
    • 本 original, fundamental, inherent
    • 色 color, appearance, character, quality
    Example

    他终于露出了本色。

    tā zhōng yú lù chū le běn sè

    He finally showed his true colors.

  • 19 气色 qì sè — complexion HSK 7
    • 气 vital energy, health status
    • 色 color, appearance
    Example

    你今天气色很好。

    nǐ jīn tiān qì sè hěn hǎo

    You look well today.

  • 20 物色 wù sè — to look for HSK 7
    • 物 thing, object, person (being sought)
    • 色 to examine, to observe (appearance)
    Example

    公司正在物色新的经理。

    gōng sī zhèng zài wù sè xīn de jīng lǐ

    The company is looking for a new manager.

  • 21 眼色 yǎn sè — hint (with eyes) HSK 7
    • 眼 eye (the organ used to give the signal)
    • 色 expression/look (the appearance or signal conveyed)
    Example

    他给我使了个眼色，让我别说话。

    tā gěi wǒ shǐ le gè yǎn sè ràng wǒ bié shuō huà

    He gave me a hint with his eyes, telling me not to speak.

  • 22 绘声绘色 huì shēng huì sè — vividly and dramatically HSK 7
    • 绘 to depict, to paint
    • 声 sound, voice
    • 绘 to depict, to paint
    • 色 color, visual appearance
    Example

    他绘声绘色地讲述了那次冒险经历。

    tā huì shēng huì sè de jiǎng shù le nà cì mào xiǎn jīng lì

    He vividly and dramatically recounted that adventure.

  • 23 逊色 xùn sè — inferior to HSK 7
    • 逊 inferior, to yield to, to be less than
    • 色 quality, appearance, standard
    Example

    新产品的质量并不逊色于进口产品。

    xīn chǎn pǐn de zhì liàng bìng bù xùn sè yú jìn kǒu chǎn pǐn

    The quality of the new product is not inferior to imported products.

Structure & writing
1 脸 liǎn — face (front of the head, from forehead to chin)

脸 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 ⺼ — flesh/meat radical, representing body tissue or muscle
⺼ is a component in 68 characters
HSK 1
能 néng ability; talent; skill 脑 nǎo brain (the main part of the nervous system, located in the cranial cavity, comprising cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, etc.)
HSK 2
然 rán (lit.) correct; right
HSK 3
育 yù to give birth to 胖 pàng fat, overweight (opposite of 瘦) 脏 zàng internal organs of the body 脚 jiǎo foot (of a person or animal) 脸 liǎn face (front of the head, from forehead to chin)
Show more HSK 3 characters (+1)
腿 tuǐ leg (of a person or animal)
HSK 4
肚 dù belly; abdomen 肤 fū skin, the outer surface of the human body 肯 kěn meat attached to bone; key or vital part 背 bèi back (of the upper body, opposite the chest and abdomen) 胳 gē arm (used in "胳膊" "胳臂"), the part of the upper limb between the shoulder and the wrist
Show more HSK 4 characters (+4)
脱 tuō to come off; to fall away 脾 pí spleen (internal organ) 膊 bo 膏 gāo fat; grease; oil
HSK 5
捐 juān to abandon; to give up 肌 jī muscle; tissue composed of muscle fibers capable of contraction 肖 xiào to resemble, to look like 肥 féi fat; containing much fat (opposite of 'lean'; generally not used for people except in 肥胖, 减肥) 胁 xié the side of the body between the armpit and the waist
Show more HSK 5 characters (+6)
胃 wèi stomach (digestive organ connecting the esophagus and duodenum) 胆 dǎn gallbladder, the sac-like organ that stores bile 胜 shèng to defeat an opponent or enemy 胡 hú ancient general term for northern and western ethnic peoples 腰 yāo waist; the middle part of the body between the hips and ribs 膀 bǎng upper arm connected to the shoulder
HSK 6
肝 gān liver (digestive organ in humans and higher animals) 肠 cháng intestine (digestive organ connecting stomach to anus, divided into small and large intestine) 股 gǔ thigh (from hip to knee) 肩 jiān shoulder, the part of the body between the neck and arm 肪 fáng fat (as in 脂肪): organic compound formed from fatty acids and glycerol, stored in animal and plant tissue as an energy source
Show more HSK 6 characters (+11)
肺 fèi lung (respiratory organ) 肿 zhǒng to swell (of skin, mucous membrane, muscle, etc. due to circulatory obstruction, inflammation, suppuration, or internal bleeding) 胞 bāo placenta and fetal membranes 胶 jiāo glue or adhesive substance (made from animal hides, horns, or plant secretions, or synthetic) 胸 xiōng chest; the front of the torso between the neck and abdomen 脂 zhī fat or oil from animal tissue or oil-bearing plant seeds 脆 cuì brittle; easily broken (opposite of "韧") 脖 bó neck (the part connecting head and torso) 腔 qiāng hollow or organ-containing cavity inside an animal's body 臂 bì arm 骨 gǔ bone, the hard tissue supporting the body in humans and vertebrates
HSK 7
婿 xù husband 祭 jì to pay tribute to the deceased 筋 jīn tendon or ligament connecting muscle to bone 肢 zhī limb (arm or leg of a person, or leg of certain animals) 胀 zhàng to swell, expand in volume (opposite of 缩)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+18)
胎 tāi fetus; embryo in the womb of a human or other mammal 胚 pēi embryo; organism in early development, formed from fertilized or unfertilized egg 脉 mài blood vessel 腆 tiǎn (lit.) abundant; plentiful 腊 là ancient winter sacrifice to the gods held in the 12th lunar month 腕 wàn wrist; ankle 腥 xīng raw meat; meat and fish foods 腹 fù abdomen; belly 腻 nì to feel put off by greasy food 腼 miǎn shy and awkward; see 腼腆 膛 táng body cavity 膜 mó membrane (thin tissue in humans, animals, and plants) 膝 xī knee, the front part connecting the thigh and lower leg, containing a joint 膨 péng to expand in volume; to swell 膳 shàn meal; food 臀 tún buttocks 藤 téng plant name: ① wisteria (紫藤), a climbing plant with purple flowers, commonly called 藤萝; ② rattan (白藤), an evergreen woody plant with long, flexible yet tough stems used for weaving chairs, baskets, and boxes, commonly called 藤子; ③ gamboge tree (藤黄), an evergreen tree with round fruit and yellow resin used as a pigment, but toxic and not for coloring food 豚 tún piglet; pig in general
1.2 佥 qiān — literary adverb meaning 'all, everyone, altogether'
佥 is a component in 9 characters
HSK 3
检 jiǎn to inspect; to examine 脸 liǎn face (front of the head, from forehead to chin)
HSK 4
签 qiān to sign one's name or mark on a document to indicate responsibility 险 xiǎn (of terrain) treacherous and difficult to pass; strategically vital 验 yàn to inspect; to examine
HSK 5
捡 jiǎn to pick up; to collect
HSK 6
剑 jiàn sword (ancient weapon with a long blade sharpened on both edges and a short hilt; in modern fencing, a slender steel blade with no edge and a small ball at the tip)
HSK 7
俭 jiǎn frugal, thrifty (opposite of 奢) 敛 liǎn (lit.) to draw in; to hold back

Stroke order

2 色 sè — color; visual impression produced by light emitted or reflected from objects
色 is a component in 2 characters
HSK 4
绝 jué to sever; to cut off
HSK 6
艳 yàn bright and colorful; vivid and beautiful

consists of

2.1 ⺈ xiàng — knife/blade radical
⺈ is a component in 8 characters
HSK 2
色 sè color; visual impression produced by light emitted or reflected from objects
HSK 3
角 jiǎo horn (hard growth on an animal's head, typically long, curved, and pointed)
HSK 4
免 miǎn to remove; to eliminate 危 wēi unsafe, dangerous (opposite of 安) 尔 ěr (lit.) you (second-person pronoun) 象 xiàng elephant (the large mammal) 负 fù to carry on one's back
HSK 6
龟 guī turtle; tortoise (reptile with a hard shell, short limbs, and retractable head and limbs)
2.2 巴 bā — to hope for; to long for; to expect
Xpinyin
巴 is a component in 9 characters
HSK 1
吧 ba sentence-final particle softening tone of imperatives; expressing suggestion, consultation, command, or request 爸 bà (colloq.) dad; father
HSK 2
色 sè color; visual impression produced by light emitted or reflected from objects
HSK 3
把 bǎ to hold; to grasp 爬 pá to crawl; to creep (of insects, reptiles, or people moving on hands and feet)
HSK 5
肥 féi fat; containing much fat (opposite of 'lean'; generally not used for people except in 肥胖, 减肥)
HSK 7
疤 bā scar left after a wound or sore heals 芭 bā see 芭蕉, a herbaceous plant with broad leaves; its fruit, similar to a banana, is edible 靶 bǎ target used for shooting practice

Stroke order