hēi
black

这件衣服是黑色的。

This shirt is black.


general

The color black; the absence of light.

天空是黑色的,因为现在是晚上。

The sky is black because it's night.

Can also describe dark colors or lack of light.

figurative

Dark or evil in nature; sinister.

他有黑心,总是欺骗别人。

He has a black heart and always deceives people.

Used metaphorically to describe negative traits.

informal

Illegal or underground activities.

黑市上可以买到稀缺的商品。

You can buy scarce goods on the black market.

Often used in phrases like 黑市 (black market).

Collocations

黑色black color黑暗darkness黑心black heart (evil)黑市black market

Antonyms

Related Phrases

黑白phrase
black and white
黑白颠倒idiom
to confuse right and wrong

Pro Tip

Color vs. Figurative Use

黑 can mean the color black or describe something as evil or illegal.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

Always consider the context to determine if 黑 is used literally or figuratively.

Word Origin

From Middle Chinese *xok, meaning 'black' or 'dark'.

Usage Notes

Can be used literally for the color or figuratively for negative connotations.

Word Breakdown

black
root
汉英词典