What does 色 mean in Chinese?

色 (sè) means "color; look; appearance; sex" in Chinese.

How do you pronounce 色?

色 is pronounced "sè" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 4.

What HSK level is 色?

色 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists. It may be a specialized or advanced word.

What words contain the character 色?

Common words with 色 include 五颜六色 (multi-colored), 不动声色 (not a word or movement (idiom); remaining calm and collected), 上色 (top-quality), 上色 (to color (a picture etc)), 五色 (multi-colored).

How do you write 色?

色 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 色. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

色 (sè), color

色

sè

color; look; appearance; sex

classifier6 strokes

Character Breakdown

A kneeling person showing expression — color

Radical: 色 (no. 139)Strokes: 6

View stroke order →

Definitions

(classifier) color
look
appearance
sex

Classifier: 种 (zhǒng)

Example Sentences

红色的花。

Hóngsè de huā

Red flowers

Words Containing 色

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
五颜六色	wǔ yán liù sè	multi-colored	HSK 5
不动声色	bù dòng shēng sè	not a word or movement (idiom); remaining calm and collected
上色	shàng sè	top-quality
上色	shàng shǎi	to color (a picture etc)
五色

Related Words

像(xiàng)· to resemble

→

呈(chéng)· to present to a superior

→

毛色(máo sè)· (of an animal) appearance or color of coat

→

嘴脸(zuǐ liǎn)· features, face (esp. derogatorily)

→

Grammar Notes

Possessive 的HSK 1

Possessor + 的 + Noun

Question Word Questions (什么, 谁, 哪)HSK 1

Same as statement, but replace the unknown element with a question word

Continuous State (着)HSK 3

Verb + 着 (+ Object)

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: Not tested
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 4 list

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

Not on the new exam

色 is not on the new HSK syllabus. Build the words the exam does test.

HSK Lord starts you at your level and schedules each review right before you would forget the word. Free to start.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.