Chinese Color Theory: The Cultural Significance and Meaning Behind Colors

Have you ever had the chance to visit China during the new year celebrations? If you do, you’ll see homes and storefronts completely decked out in red. You’ll also see plenty of people dressed head-to-toe in red clothing.

It’s not just because it’s a bold and vibrant hue. In fact, you’ll see it on special occasions such as festivals and weddings because it represents happiness, wealth, and luck.

But did you know that there are other colors that hold special meaning in Chinese culture?

In this article, we’ll explore the role of colors in Chinese culture and introduce you to some authentic expressions related to those colors. By the end, you’ll have a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and be able to impress your Chinese friends with your newfound understanding of their culture!

#1 红色 / 紫色（hónɡsè / zǐsè）Red / Purple

Let’s first explorethe meaning of the color red, which is extremely popular among Chinese people for a very important reason.

红红火火 (hónɡhónɡ huǒhuǒ)

In Chinese culture, red symbolizes good fortune, wealth, and happiness, making it a common expression of goodwill. The repetition of “红” (red) and “火” (fire) here conveys a sense of vigor, vitality, and success. This phrase evokes not only the bright and lively nature of something but also its positive and prosperous state.

祝你的生活红红火火。May your life be prosperous.
(Zhù nǐ de shēnɡhuó hónɡhónɡ huǒhuǒ.)

这家新店的生意红红火火的。This new store is a flourishing business.
(Zhè jiā xīndiàn de shēngyì hónghónghuǒhuǒ de.)

红光满面 (hónɡɡuānɡ mǎnmiàn)

The “red” (红) in this phrase suggests a healthy, flushed complexion, which is often associated with good health, energy, or a joyful mood.

It is commonly used to describe someone who is glowing, lively, or enthusiastic, particularly in a context where they seem to be in great physical or emotional shape.

e.g.

看你红光满面，最近一定有好事吧！Look at your red face. You must have heard some good news recently.
(Kàn nǐ hónɡɡuānɡ mǎnmiàn, zuìjìn yídìnɡ yǒu hǎoshì bɑ!)

她听到这个好消息后，红光满面，笑得很开心。After hearing the good news, she was glowing with joy and smiling happily.
(Tā tīng dào zhège hǎo xiāoxi hòu, hóngguāngmǎnmiàn, xiào de hěn kāixīn.)

大红大紫 (dàhónɡ dàzǐ)

Officials in ancient China were ranked and wore clothes of different colors to indicate their position. The highest-ranking officials wore purple and red, so these colors were associated with success. Today, red and purple are often used to say that a celebrity is very popular.

e.g.

你不知道她？她最近红得发紫呢！You don’t know her? She is extremely popular these days!
(Nǐ bù zhīdào tā? tā zuìjìn hónɡ dé fā zǐ ne!)

他也曾大红大紫过。He was also a tremendous success in the past.
(Tā yě cénɡ dàhónɡ dàzǐ ɡuò.)

眼红 (yǎn hónɡ)

Furthermore, red is linked to blood, representing courage. For instance, a red heart implies someone is brave and devoted. However, red can have negative connotations as well. When we say our eyes turn red, it means we are jealous.

e.g.

其他同学都找到了好工作，还在找工作的小王有点眼红。While other classmates of his have found good jobs, Xiao Wang is still looking for a job. He is a little jealous.
(Qítā tónɡxué dōu zhǎo dào le hǎo ɡōnɡzuò, hái zài zhǎo ɡōnɡzuò de xiǎo wánɡ yóu diǎn yǎnhónɡ.)

#2 白色(bái sè) White

The Contrast Between Red & White

红白喜事（hónɡ bái xǐ shì）

Let’s talk about 红事 (red events) and 白事 (white events). These events are typically associated with celebrations and mourning, respectively, and this phrase is used to collectively describe significant occasions in a person’s life or in the community.

红事 (red events) refer to happy or celebratory occasions, such as weddings, birth celebrations, and other joyful events. The color red is traditionally associated with happiness, prosperity, and good fortune in Chinese culture. 白事 (white events) refer to funerals or mourning-related occasions. The color white is often associated with mourning and sorrow in Chinese culture.

e.g.

最近红白喜事好多。There have been many weddings and funerals recently.
(Zuìjìn hónɡ bái xǐ shì hǎo duō.)

他们家最近有红白喜事，既有婚礼也有丧事。Their family has had both happy and sad events recently, with a wedding and a funeral.
(Tā men jiā zuì jìn yǒu hóng bái xǐ shì, jì yǒu hūn lǐ yě yǒu sāng shì.)

红脸 / 白脸（hónɡliǎn / báiliǎn）

Actors at the Peking Opera use different colored face paint to show the personality of their characters. Red faces represent good characters, while white faces represent bad characters.

In everyday life, Chinese people refer to red and white faces to describe friendly or obnoxious people. At home, red and white faces are used to show whether parents are lenient or strict.

e.g.

A: 你爸爸比较严厉还是妈妈比较严厉？Is your father more strict or your mother?
(Nǐ bàbɑ bǐjiào yánlì háishì māmɑ bǐjiào yánlì?)

B: 我妈妈。他们俩一个唱红脸，一个唱白脸。My mother. One is good cop and the other is bad cop.
(Wǒ māmɑ. tāmen liǎnɡ yíɡè chànɡ hónɡliǎn, yíɡè chànɡ báiliǎn.)

Cultural Insight: Chinese wedding dresses

As China becomes more and more globalized, Chinese people have also come to accept the Western meaning of white as a symbol of purity and beauty. This is why many brides now choose to wear white wedding dresses. However, to honor tradition, they may also wear a red dress during the reception, where guests will bless them with good fortune.

白费劲（bái fèi jìn）

This expression means “to waste effort” or “to make a futile effort.” It is used to describe situations where someone has worked hard or put in a lot of effort, but their actions ultimately made no difference or were unnecessary.

e.g.

你怎么不早说？我白费了这么大劲！Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I wasted all my effort!
(Nǐ zěnme bù zǎo shuō? wǒ bái fèi le zhème dà jìn.)

他努力了那么久，结果白费劲，什么也没做到。He worked so hard for so long, but in the end, it was all in vain, and he didn’t accomplish anything.
(Tā nǔlì le nàme jiǔ, jiéguǒ bái fèijìn, shénme yě méi zuò dào.)

#3 绿色(lǜ sè) Green

Think of the color green, and what comes to mind? Trees, grass, and a healthy life, right? However, in Chinese culture, green can have a few different, slightly more negative connotations. Let’s explore them together.

绿帽子（lǜ màozi）

Wearing a green hat is considered bad luck in China. In ancient China, officials of low rank wore green, while high-ranking officials wore red or purple. Furthermore, during the Eastern Han Dynasty (BC25-BC220), men were required to wear green headscarves or hats if they sent female family members to work as prostitutes.

Today, wearing a green hat implies that one’s partner is unfaithful.

e.g.

A:你听说了吗？小王的女朋友给他戴了绿帽子！Did you hear? Xiao Wang’s girlfriend cheated on him!
(Nǐ tīnɡshuō le mɑ? xiǎowánɡ de nǚ pénɡyou ɡěi tā dài le lǜ màozi.)

B:不会吧！小王真可怜。No way! Poor Xiao Wang.
(Bú huì bɑ! xiǎo wánɡ zhēn kělián.)

脸绿了（liǎn lǜ le）

What color does your face turn when you get mad？You might say it’s red, but we would say green instead. Here is an example:

e.g.

他很没礼貌，把我脸都气绿了。He was extremely impolite, I was so angry that my face turned green.
(Tā hěn méi lǐmào, bǎ wǒ liǎn dōu qì lǜ le.)

Why is it that we say our face turns green when we’re upset? This is because some ancient Chinese people believed that the liver, which provides vitality like trees and grass, was green. They also thought that a person’s emotions were connected to their bodily organs, so if someone was angry, it would hurt their liver and show on their face.

#4 黑色 / 灰色(hēisè / huīsè) Black / Grey

We’ve discussed the relationship between colors and facial expressions before, like red, white, and green faces. Well, we also use black to describe emotions. Let’s take a look at a few different Chinese expressions including the color black.

黑脸（hēi liǎn）

Black is a dark color and is naturally associated with darkness. It can be used to describe a person’s bad mood, as if there is no sunshine on their face and so it appears dark.

e.g.

他一回家就黑着脸，不知道怎么了。When he came home, his face was black. I don’t know what happened.
(Tā yì huí jiā jiù hēi zhe liǎn, bù zhīdào zěnme le.)

印堂发黑（yìntánɡ fā hēi）

Having a black face is often an indication of being in a bad mood. To take things even further, if someone’s face is dark between the eyebrows, it may indicate a major health issue or bad luck. In ancient China, people believed that internal problems manifested in physical signs, such as lung problems being indicated on the forehead.

e.g.

看你印堂发黑，最近可能要倒霉。You may have had bad luck recently, judging by darkness on your forehead.
(Kàn nǐ yìntánɡ fā hēi, zuìjìn kěnénɡ yào dǎoméi.)

黑市（hēi shì）/ 黑心（hēixīn）              

Compared to a red heart, which is a symbol of courage and loyalty, if a person’s heart turns black, they are not a good person and might harm others for their own benefit.

e.g.

黑市里出现了买卖器官的现象。Organs are being bought and sold on the black market.
(Hēishì lǐ chūxiàn le mǎimɑi qìɡuān de xiànxiànɡ.)

这个黑心商贩卖的东西质量很差。The goods sold by this shady dealer are low quality.
(Zhèɡe hēixīn shānɡfàn mài de dōngxi zhìliànɡ hěn chà.)

灰色地带（huīsè dìdài）/ 灰色收入（huīsè shōurù）

White often represents light and justice, while black represents darkness and injustice. Grey is considered vague and unclear as it’s somewhere between black and white. For example, when it’s cloudy and sunless, people describe it as gray, meaning a bad day.

e.g.

今天天气不好，没有太阳，灰蒙蒙的。It’s a bad day today. It’s sunless and gray.
(Jīntiān tiānqì bù hǎo, méiyǒu tàiyánɡ, huīmēnɡmēnɡ de.)

Grey also suggests that something is unclear or possibly illegal.

e.g.

这个产业还处于灰色地带，法律没有禁止，也不支持。The industry is still in a grey area, neither prohibited nor permitted by the law.
(Zhèɡe chǎnyè hái chǔ yú huīsè dìdài, fǎlǜ méiyǒu jìnzhǐ, yě bù zhīchí.)

除了工资，他还有一些灰色收入。In addition to his salary, he has some grey income.
(Chú le ɡōnɡzī, tā háiyǒu yìxiē huīsè shōurù.)

Lastly, there’s a color that has both noble and vulgar connotations that I’d like to introduce.

#5 黄色(huánɡsè) Yellow

炎黄（yánhuánɡ）

If you have ever visited the Forbidden city or seen pictures of it, then you were likely impressed by the beautiful yellow and red colors. In the past, yellow was considered the exclusive color of the Chinese emperor, and it became a symbol of nobility. There are many interesting Chinese expressions related to this color.

e.g.

黄河是中国的母亲河。The Yellow River is the mother river of China.
(Huánɡhé shì zhōnɡɡuó de mǔqīn hé.)

我们是炎黄子孙。We are the descendants of Emperor Yan and Emperor Huang.
(Wǒmen shì yánhuánɡ zǐsūn.)

黄道吉日（huánɡdào jírì）

This is a Chinese term that refers to an auspicious day or lucky day. The term is commonly used in traditional Chinese culture and is based on the belief that certain days are more favorable for specific activities, such as weddings, moving into a new home, or starting a business. These days are selected based on the Chinese lunar calendar and astrology, specifically by considering the movement of celestial bodies and the “黄道” (Huáng dào), which refers to the ecliptic or the path the sun appears to take through the sky.

e.g.

我要选个黄道吉日结婚。I will choose a lucky day to get married.
(Wǒ yào xuǎn ɡè huánɡdàojírì jiéhūn.)

祝你飞黄腾达，前程似锦。I wish you success and a bright future.
(Zhù nǐ fēihuánɡ ténɡdá, qiánchénɡ sìjǐn.)

那是个黄金时代，出现了很多有名的歌手。It was the golden age and there were many famous singers.
(Nà shì ɡè huánɡjīn shídài, chūxiàn le hěnduō yǒumínɡ de ɡēshǒu.)

These expressions associate yellow with positivity and good fortune. However, the meaning of the color yellow has evolved over time and is now used in expressions unrelated to royalty.

黄脸婆（huánɡliǎnpó）

In ancient times, Chinese people preferred pale skin because it showed that a person had servants and didn’t have to work hard. Darker skin was associated with working outdoors and having a tough life. Sick people or unattractive married women were sometimes called “yellow-faced,” as a derogatory term. This term may still come up in some couples’ arguments today.

e.g.

你怎么脸色发黄？最近生病了吗？Why is your face yellow? Have you been sick lately?
(Nǐ zěnme liǎnsè fā huánɡ ? zuì jìn shēnɡbìnɡ le mɑ?)

我现在人老珠黄，成了黄脸婆了。I’m old and yellow-faced now.
(Wǒ xiànzài rénlǎo zhūhuánɡ, chénɡ le huánɡliǎnpó le.)

事黄了（shì huánɡ le）

This term means “the situation is ruined” or “the plan has failed.” The phrase 黄了 (huáng le) literally translates to “turned yellow,” but it is used figuratively to indicate that something has gone wrong, become unsuccessful, or been canceled.

e.g.

别提了，这事儿黄了。Don’t bring it up. It’s screwed up.
(Bié tí le, zhè shìr huánɡ le.)

我们计划的旅行黄了，因为机票已经涨价了。Our trip plans are  ruined because the flight tickets have increased in price.
(Wǒmen jìhuà de lǚxíng huángle, yīnwèi jīpiào yǐjīng zhǎngjià le.)

黄色（huánɡ sè）

Yellow was once associated with the emperor, but its meaning has since evolved considerably. Yellow later became associated with pornography due to the rise of yellow journalism. This style of journalism focused on sensationalism, including pornography, crime, and scandals.

In the early years of the Republic of China, yellow journalism was seen as vulgar news. Over time, the term “yellow” extended beyond newspapers to all forms of media, such as yellow books, movies, and music. Today, “yellow” is often used to refer to pornographic and obscene content.

e.g.

不应该让青少年接触黄色电影和黄色书籍。Young people should not be exposed to pornographic films and books.
(Bù yīnɡɡāi rànɡ qīnɡshàonián jiēchù huánɡsè diànyǐnɡ hé huánɡsè shūjí.)

请不要对女性说黄色笑话，很不礼貌。Please don’t tell dirty jokes to women. It’s impolite.
(Qǐnɡ búyào duì nǚ xìnɡ shuō huánɡsè xiàohuɑ, hěn bù lǐmào.)

Closing Thoughts

Colors play a significant role in Chinese culture and are deeply rooted in history, tradition, and superstition. From the auspicious red to the noble yellow, each color has its unique meaning and symbolism. We hope that this article has given you new insights into the fascinating color scheme of China and taught you some new expressions that will help make your Chinese more rich and authentic. .

Now, we want to pass it off to you. What do different colors symbolize in your culture? Do you have any similar expressions in your native language? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!

Exercises

Exercise 1: 

Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase from the list.

1. 他的公司最近发展得非常好，生意________。(Tā de gōngsī zuìjìn fāzhǎn de fēicháng hǎo, shēng yì ________.)
   His company has been doing very well lately, with business ________.
2. 他听到这个好消息后，________，开心极了。(Tā tīngdào zhège hǎo xiāoxi hòu, liǎn shàng ________, kāixīn jíle.)
   After hearing the good news, ________, he was extremely happy.
3. 当他得知自己没有升职时，他的脸 ________。（Dāng tā dé zhī zìjǐ méiyǒu shēng zhí shí, tā de liǎn ________.）
   When he learned that he didn’t get promoted, his face turned ________.

Key：红红火火；红光满面；绿了；

Exercise 2: 

Match the Chinese phrase with the correct English translation.

1. 红光满面
2. 红白喜事
3. 白费劲
4. 黑市
5. 黄道吉日

a) An illicit market or black market.
b) A day considered lucky for important activities.
c) A futile effort or wasted effort.
d) A celebration involving happy or sad events.
e) Appearing radiant or healthy.

Key：1e；2d；3c；4a; 5b

Exercise 3: 

Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence.

1. 他一直努力工作，但 ________，并没有得到任何回报。(Tā yīzhí nǔlì gōngzuò, dàn ________, bìng méiyǒu dédào rènhé huíbào.) He has been working hard, but ________, he hasn’t received any rewards.
   (A) 红白喜事
   (B) 白费劲
   (C) 红光满面

2. 他的情绪不太好，看到我时 ________，看起来很生气。(Tā de qíngxù bù tài hǎo, kàn dào wǒ shí ________, kàn qǐlái hěn shēngqì.) His mood wasn’t good when he saw me, his face turned ________, looking very angry.
   (A) 黑心
   (B) 黑脸
   (C) 红光满面
   
3. 他们计划了很长时间的婚礼，最后选择了一个 ________ 举行。(Tāmen jìhuàle hěn cháng shíjiān de hūnlǐ, zuìhòu xuǎnzéle yīgè ________ jǔxíng.) They planned the wedding for a long time and finally chose a ________ to hold it.
   (A) 黄道吉日
   (B) 红光满面
   (C) 黑市

Key: 1c; 2b; 3a

Exercise 4:

True or false.

1. “红光满面” means someone looks tired and unhappy.
2. “黑心” refers to someone with a kind heart.
3. “大红大紫” describes someone or something that is very successful and famous.
4. “黑心” can indicate that a company is known for unethical business practices.
5. “事黄了” can indicate a person’s plan work well after much effort.

Key: 1 ( False); 2 ( False); 3 (True); 4 (True); 5 (False)