Colorful Chinese: Learn Colors and Basic Adjectives (A1)

Want to describe your world in Chinese? Colors and basic adjectives are perfect first steps. After today, you’ll say things like “the red apple,” “this bag is cheap,” and “the weather is hot” — clearly and naturally. We’ll keep it simple, practical, and fun, with bite-sized exercises along the way.

Essential color words in Chinese

Colors are often nouns in Chinese (ending with 色), and can also act like adjectives before a noun. Learn these first:

红色 hóngsè
red
noun
苹果是红色的。
The apple is red.
蓝色 lánsè
blue
noun
我喜欢蓝色的书包。
I like the blue backpack.
绿色 lǜsè
green
noun
那辆车是绿色的。
That car is green.
黄色 huángsè
yellow
noun
香蕉是黄色的。
Bananas are yellow.
黑色 hēisè
black
noun
这双鞋是黑色的。
This pair of shoes is black.
白色 báisè
white
noun
那只猫很白。
That cat is very white.
橙色 chéngsè
orange
noun
我不喜欢橙色的T恤。
I don’t like the orange T-shirt.
紫色 zǐsè
purple
noun
她有一支紫色的笔。
She has a purple pen.
粉红色 fěnhóngsè
pink
noun
这个房间是粉红色的。
This room is pink.
灰色 huīsè
gray
noun
他们穿灰色的制服。
They wear gray uniforms.
棕色 / 咖啡色 zōngsè / kāfēisè
brown
noun
我有一条棕色的皮带。
I have a brown belt.

香蕉是。

Practice colors in simple sentences

Try short, everyday statements. Notice how 是 links the subject and the color, and 的 often follows the color when used with 是.

Mandarin
我的手机是黑色的。
My phone is black.
Mandarin
这件衣服是蓝色的。
This piece of clothing is blue.

我喜欢的鞋子。

🔠 Put the words in order

Form a natural sentence

Must-know adjectives for A1

Adjectives in Chinese often follow the pattern: subject + 很 + adjective. 很 here is often a soft link (“is”) and doesn’t always mean “very.”

大 dà
big
adjective
这个房子很大。
This house is big.
小 xiǎo
small
adjective
这只狗很小。
This dog is small.
新 xīn
new
adjective
这台电脑很新。
This computer is new.
旧 jiù
old (not for age)
adjective
这张桌子很旧。
This table is old.
漂亮 piàoliang
pretty
adjective
这件裙子很漂亮。
This dress is pretty.
好看 hǎokàn
good-looking; interesting to watch/read
adjective
这本书很好看。
This book is very good/interesting.
贵 guì
expensive
adjective
这件衣服很贵。
This piece of clothing is expensive.
便宜 piányi
cheap
adjective
那家店很便宜。
That shop is cheap.
高 gāo
tall; high
adjective
他很高。
He is tall.
矮 ǎi
short (height)
adjective
我不高，我很矮。
I’m not tall; I’m short.
热 rè
hot
adjective
今天很热。
It’s hot today.
冷 lěng
cold
adjective
冬天很冷。
Winter is cold.
快 kuài
fast
adjective
这辆车很快。
This car is fast.
慢 màn
slow
adjective
这台电脑很慢。
This computer is slow.

这家店很。

Cultural color notes

  • 红色 (red): good luck, celebrations, weddings, red envelopes (红包) at festivals.
  • 白色 (white): purity but also mourning; white clothing is used in funerals.
  • 黑色 (black): formal, serious.
  • 金色 (gold): wealth and prosperity. These meanings explain why red is popular for decorations, and why white might be avoided in happy events.
💬 At the shop: color and price

今天很。

🧠 Quick check: colors and adjectives
他衣服漂亮。 → 他的衣服很漂亮。 Add 的 for possession and 很 to link the adjective naturally. 红色衣服很好看。 → 红色的衣服很好看。 With 色, add 的 before the noun: 红色的衣服。 这家店不很贵。 → 这家店不贵。 Use 不 + adjective for simple negation at A1.
粉 powder 红 red 色 color
咖啡 coffee 色 color

Mini practice: describe what you see

  • 这支笔是___的？(choose: 蓝色的 / 黑色的)
  • 你的手机很___。(choose: 新 / 旧)
  • 我喜欢___的衣服。(choose: 红色的 / 白色的) Say your answers out loud to build fluency.

Wrap-up

You learned core color words (红色、蓝色、绿色...) and everyday adjectives (大、小、新、旧、漂亮、贵、便宜、热、冷...). Keep using two handy patterns:

  • Subject + 很 + adjective: 这件衣服很漂亮。
  • Color + 的 + noun: 蓝色的鞋子；or short color before noun: 红衣服。 Practice by describing three things around you right now: their color and one adjective. For example: “我的杯子是白色的，很小。” Keep it simple, keep it daily, and your Chinese will get brighter — and clearer — fast!