紅

See also: 红

紅	U+7D05, 紅 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-7D05

← 約
[U+7D04]

CJK Unified Ideographs

紆 →
[U+7D06]

Translingual

Han character

紅 (Kangxi radical 120, 糸+3, 9 strokes, cangjie input 女火一 (VFM), four-corner 2191₀, composition ⿰糹工)

References

KangXi: page 916, character 1
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 27243
Dae Jaweon: page 1343, character 8
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 5, page 3363, character 5
Unihan data for U+7D05

Chinese

trad.		紅
simp.		红

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 紅
Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
Small seal script

Characters in the same phonetic series (工) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
缸	kroːŋ, ɡroːŋ
篢	kluːmʔ, koːŋ
贑	*kluːmʔ
涳	ŋr'oːŋ, kʰroːŋ, *kʰoːŋ
江	*kroːŋ
肛	kroːŋ, qʰroːŋ
扛	*kroːŋ
杠	*kroːŋ
豇	*kroːŋ
茳	*kroːŋ
釭	kroːŋ, koːŋ, *kuːŋ
矼	*kroːŋ
玒	kroːŋ, koːŋ
虹	kroːŋs, koːŋs, *ɡoːŋ
腔	*kʰroːŋ
崆	kʰroːŋ, kʰoːŋ
羫	*kʰroːŋ
控	kʰroːŋ, kʰoːŋs
椌	kʰroːŋ, kʰoːŋ
悾	kʰroːŋ, kʰoːŋ, *kʰoːŋs
跫	kʰroːŋ, kʰoŋ, *ɡoŋ
啌	*qʰroːŋ
谾	qʰroːŋ, qʰoːŋ
舡	*qʰroːŋ
缻	*ɡroːŋ
項	*ɡroːŋʔ
屸	*ɡ·roːŋ
功	*koːŋ
工	*koːŋ
疘	*koːŋ
魟	koːŋ, qʰoːŋ, *ɡoːŋ
攻	koːŋ, kuːŋ
愩	*koːŋ
碽	*koːŋ
貢	*koːŋs
羾	*koːŋs
空	kʰoːŋ, kʰoːŋs
箜	*kʰoːŋ
硿	*kʰoːŋ
埪	*kʰoːŋ
鵼	*kʰoːŋ
倥	kʰoːŋ, kʰoːŋʔ, *kʰoːŋs
鞚	*kʰoːŋs
叿	*qʰoːŋ
嗊	*qʰoːŋʔ
訌	*ɡoːŋ
紅	*ɡoːŋ
仜	*ɡoːŋ
葒	*ɡoːŋ
渱	*ɡoːŋ
鴻	ɡoːŋ, ɡoːŋʔ
汞	*ɡoːŋʔ
澒	*ɡoːŋʔ
鞏	*koŋʔ
巩	*koŋʔ
銎	kʰoŋ, qʰoŋ
恐	kʰoŋʔ, kʰoŋs
蛩	*ɡoŋ
筇	*ɡoŋ
桏	*ɡoŋ
邛	*ɡoŋ

Phono-semantic compound (形聲, OC *ɡoːŋ) : semantic 糸 (“silk”) + phonetic 工 (OC *koːŋ).

Etymology

彤 (OC *l'uːŋ, “red”) could be a variant of 紅 (OC *ɡoːŋ) (Schuessler, 2007). May be related to 虹 (OC *kroːŋs, *ɡoːŋ, “rainbow”).

Originally referred to lighter shades of red; gradually replaced 赤 (chì, “red”) as the basic color term for "red".

Pronunciation 1

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): hóng (hong²)
(Zhuyin): ㄏㄨㄥˊ
(Chengdu, SP): hong²
(Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): хун (hun, I)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou, Jyutping): hung⁴
(Taishan, Wiktionary): huung³
Gan (Wiktionary): fung⁴
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): fùng
(Meixian, Guangdong): fung²
Jin (Wiktionary): hung¹
Min Bei (KCR): ǒ̤ng
Min Dong (BUC): è̤ng / hùng
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): âng / hông
(Teochew, Peng'im): ang⁵ / hong⁵
Wu (Wiktionary): hhon (T3)
Xiang (Wiktionary): hong²

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: hóng
  - Zhuyin: ㄏㄨㄥˊ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: hóng
  - Wade–Giles: hung²
  - Yale: húng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: horng
  - Palladius: хун (xun)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /xʊŋ³⁵/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: hong²
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: xung
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /xoŋ²¹/
- (Dungan)
  - Cyrillic and Wiktionary: хун (hun, I)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /xuŋ²⁴/
  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: hung⁴
  - Yale: hùhng
  - Cantonese Pinyin: hung⁴
  - Guangdong Romanization: hung⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hʊŋ²¹/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: huung³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hɵŋ²²/
Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: fung⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fuŋ³⁵/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: fùng
  - Hakka Romanization System: fungˇ
  - Hagfa Pinyim: fung²
  - Sinological IPA: /fuŋ¹¹/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: fung²
  - Sinological IPA: /fʊŋ¹¹/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: hung¹
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /xũŋ¹¹/
Min Bei
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: ǒ̤ng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɔŋ²¹/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: è̤ng / hùng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /øyŋ⁵³/, /huŋ⁵³/

Note:

è̤ng - colloquial;
hùng - literary ("successful;
red bunting").

Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: âng
  - Tâi-lô: âng
  - Phofsit Daibuun: aang
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /aŋ²³/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /aŋ¹³/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei): /aŋ²⁴/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hông
  - Tâi-lô: hông
  - Phofsit Daibuun: hoong
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /hɔŋ²³/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /hɔŋ¹³/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei): /hɔŋ²⁴/

Note:

âng - colloquial;
hông - literary.

- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: ang⁵ / hong⁵
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: âng / hông
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /aŋ⁵⁵/, /hoŋ⁵⁵/

Note:

ang5 - colloquial;
hong5 - literary.

Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: hhon (T3)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɦʊŋ²³/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: hong²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /xʊŋ¹³/
  - Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /xən¹³/

Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 紅
Mandarin	Beijing	/xuŋ³⁵/
	Harbin	/xuŋ²⁴/
	Tianjin	/xuŋ⁴⁵/
	Jinan	/xuŋ⁴²/
	Qingdao	/xəŋ⁴²/
	Zhengzhou	/xuŋ⁴²/
	Xi'an	/xuŋ²⁴/
	Xining	/xuə̃²⁴/
	Yinchuan	/xuŋ⁵³/
	Lanzhou	/xũn⁵³/
	Ürümqi	/xuŋ⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/xoŋ²¹³/
	Chengdu	/xoŋ³¹/
	Guiyang	/xoŋ²¹/
	Kunming	/xoŋ³¹/
	Nanjing	/xoŋ²⁴/
	Hefei	/xəŋ⁵⁵/
Jin	Taiyuan	/xuəŋ¹¹/
	Pingyao	/xuŋ¹³/
	Hohhot	/xũŋ³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/ɦoŋ²³/
	Suzhou	/ɦoŋ¹³/
	Hangzhou	/ɦoŋ²¹³/
	Wenzhou	/ɦoŋ³¹/
Hui	Shexian	/xuʌ̃⁴⁴/
Hui	Tunxi	/xan⁴⁴/
Xiang	Changsha	/xoŋ¹³/
Xiang	Xiangtan	/ɦən¹²/
Gan	Nanchang	/fuŋ⁴⁵/
Hakka	Meixian	/fuŋ¹¹/
Hakka	Taoyuan	/fuŋ¹¹/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/hoŋ²¹/
	Nanning	/huŋ²¹/
	Hong Kong	/huŋ²¹/
Min	Xiamen (Min Nan)	/hɔŋ³⁵/ /aŋ³⁵/
	Fuzhou (Min Dong)	/øyŋ⁵³/
	Jian'ou (Min Bei)	/ɔŋ²¹/
	Shantou (Min Nan)	/hoŋ⁵⁵/ /aŋ⁵⁵/
	Haikou (Min Nan)	/hɔŋ³¹/ /aŋ³¹/

Middle Chinese: /ɦuŋ/

Rime
Character	紅
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	匣 (33)
Final (韻)	東 (1)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	戸公切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ɦuŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/ɦuŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/ɣuŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɦəwŋ/
Li Rong	/ɣuŋ/
Wang Li	/ɣuŋ/
Bernard Karlgren	/ɣuŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	hóng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	hung⁴

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*ɡˤoŋ/
(Zhengzhang): /*ɡoːŋ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	紅
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	hóng
Middle Chinese	‹ huwng ›
Old Chinese	/*ɡˁoŋ/
English	pink
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	紅
Reading #	1/1
No.	4055
Phonetic component	工
Rime group	東
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	洪
Old Chinese	/*ɡoːŋ/

Definitions

紅

red
紅色／红色 ― hóngsè ― red (color)
紅茶／红茶 ― hóngchá ― black tea (literally, “red tea”)
紅包／红包 ― hóngbāo ― red packet
紅綠色盲／红绿色盲 ― hónglǜ sèmáng ― red-green colour blindness
(colloquial) popular; in vogue
翻紅／翻红 ― fānhóng ― to be popular again
邁克爾·傑克遜沒有以前那麼紅了。 [MSC, trad.]
迈克尔·杰克逊没有以前那么红了。 [MSC, simp.]
Màikè'ěr Jiékèxùn méiyǒu yǐqián nàme hóng le. [Pinyin]
Michael Jackson is not as popular as he used to be.
- 董晨宇介紹，這種突然病毒式紅起來的詞彙又稱「米姆」，像「雨女無瓜」這樣由老電視劇而來的「米姆」也有先例。 [MSC, trad.]
  董晨宇介绍，这种突然病毒式红起来的词汇又称“米姆”，像“雨女无瓜”这样由老电视剧而来的“米姆”也有先例。 [MSC, simp.]
  From: 2019 June 18, 陆宇婷 (Lu Yuting), 蒋肖斌 (Jiang Xiaobin), 《“雨女无瓜”成流行语，老剧靠“梗”翻红》, in China Youth Daily, page 8
  Dǒng Chényǔ jièshào, zhè zhǒng tūrán bìngdúshì hóng qǐlái de cíhuì yòu chēng “mǐmǔ”, xiàng “yǔnǚwúguā” zhèyàng yóu lǎo diànshìjù ér lái de “mǐmǔ” yě yǒu xiānlì. [Pinyin]
  (please add an English translation of this example)
the red clothes and bunting used on festive occasions
披紅／披红 ― pīhóng ― to drape in red silk as a sign of honor or for festivity
festive occasion; wedding
紅白喜事／红白喜事 ― hóngbáixǐshì ― weddings and funerals
(figurative) revolutionary; Communist; Red
紅軍／红军 ― hóngjūn ― Red army
又紅又專／又红又专 ― yòuhóngyòuzhuān ― to have a procommunist mindset along with professional skill
bonus; dividend
分紅／分红 ― fēnhóng ― distribute or draw dividends
(literary) flower
殘紅／残红 ― cánhóng ― fallen petals
(literary) beautiful woman
(literary) blood
落紅／落红 ― luòhóng ― to bleed as an indication of a broken virginity
(euphemistic, Cantonese, Hakka) blood tofu
豬紅／猪红 [Cantonese] ― zyu¹ hung⁴ [Jyutping] ― pig blood tofu
雞紅／鸡红 [Cantonese] ― gai¹ hung⁴ [Jyutping] ― chicken blood tofu
a surname. Hong

Synonyms

(red): 緋／绯 (fēi), 彤 (tóng)

Dialectal synonyms of 紅 (“red”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		赤, 紅
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		紅
Mandarin	Beijing	紅
	Taiwan	紅
	Tianjin	紅
	Tangshan	紅
	Cangzhou	紅
	Baoding	紅
	Shijiazhuang	紅
	Chifeng	紅
	Hulunbuir (Hailar)	紅
	Harbin	紅
	Shenyang	紅
	Yantai (Muping)	紅
	Qingdao	紅
	Jinan	紅
	Luoyang	紅
	Wanrong	紅
	Zhengzhou	紅
	Xi'an	紅
	Yinchuan	紅
	Lanzhou	紅
	Xining	紅
	Ürümqi	紅
	Wuhan	紅
	Chengdu	紅
	Chongqing	紅
	Guiyang	紅
	Kunming	紅
	Guilin	紅
	Liuzhou	紅
	Xuzhou	紅
	Yangzhou	紅
	Nanjing	紅
	Hefei	紅
	Nantong	紅
	Malaysia	紅
	Singapore	紅
Cantonese	Guangzhou	紅
	Hong Kong	紅
	Hong Kong (San Tin Weitou)	紅
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)	紅
	Hong Kong (Ting Kok)	紅
	Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)	紅
	Macau	紅
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	紅
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	紅
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	紅
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	紅
	Foshan	紅
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	紅
	Foshan (Shunde)	紅
	Foshan (Sanshui)	紅
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	紅
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	紅
	Zhuhai (Qianshan)	紅
	Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)	紅
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	紅
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	紅
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	紅
	Taishan	紅
	Kaiping (Chikan)	紅
	Enping (Niujiang)	紅
	Heshan (Yayao)	紅
	Dongguan	紅
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	紅
	Yangjiang	紅
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	紅
	Singapore (Guangfu)	紅
Gan	Nanchang	紅
	Lichuan	紅
	Pingxiang	紅
Hakka	Meixian	紅
	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	紅
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	紅
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	紅
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	紅
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	紅
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	紅
	Wengyuan	紅
	Liannan	紅
	Conghua (Lütian)	紅
	Jiexi	紅
	Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)	紅
	Changting	紅
	Wuping (Yanqian)	紅
	Ninghua	紅
	Yudu	紅
	Ningdu	紅
	Tonggu (Sandu)	紅
	Ganzhou (Panlong)	紅
	Dayu	紅
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	紅
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	紅
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	紅
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	紅
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	紅
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	紅
	Hong Kong	紅
	Mengshan (Xihe)	紅
	Luchuan	紅
	Senai (Huiyang)	紅
	Kuching (Hepo)	紅
Huizhou	Jixi	紅
Huizhou	Shexian	紅
Jin	Taiyuan	紅
	Xinzhou	紅
	Linhe	紅
	Jining	紅
	Hohhot	紅
	Zhangjiakou	紅
	Handan	紅
Min Bei	Jian'ou	紅
Min Dong	Fuzhou	紅
Min Nan	Xiamen	紅
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	紅
	Quanzhou	紅
	Yongchun	紅
	Zhangzhou	紅
	Zhao'an	紅
	Taipei (Wanhua)	紅
	Kaohsiung	紅
	Yilan	紅
	Changhua (Lukang)	紅
	Taichung	紅
	Taichung (Wuqi)	紅
	Tainan	紅
	Taitung	紅
	Hsinchu	紅
	Penghu (Magong)	紅
	Penang (Hokkien)	紅
	Singapore (Hokkien)	紅
	Manila (Hokkien)	紅
	Chaozhou	紅
	Shantou	紅
	Shantou (Chenghai)	紅
	Jieyang	紅
	Haifeng	紅
	Bangkok (Teochew)	紅
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	紅
	Singapore (Teochew)	紅
	Leizhou	紅
	Wenchang	紅
	Haikou	紅
	Singapore (Hainanese)	紅
Shaojiang Min	Shaowu	赤
Zhongshan Min	Shaxi (Longdu)	紅
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	紅
Shehua	Fu'an	赤
	Fuding	赤
	Luoyuan	赤
	Sanming	紅
	Shunchang	紅
	Hua'an	紅
	Guixi (Zhangping)	紅
	Cangnan	赤
	Jingning	赤
	Lishui	赤
	Longyou	赤
	Chaozhou	紅
	Fengshun	紅
Wu	Shanghai	紅
	Shanghai (Chongming)	紅
	Suzhou	紅
	Danyang	紅
	Hangzhou	紅
	Ningbo	紅
	Wenzhou	紅
	Jinhua	紅
Xiang	Changsha	紅
Xiang	Loudi	紅

Compounds

See 紅/derived terms § Red (Chinese).

Pronunciation 2

Mandarin
(Pinyin): gōng (gong¹)
(Zhuyin): ㄍㄨㄥ
Cantonese
(Guangzhou, Jyutping): gung¹
(Taishan, Wiktionary): guung¹
Min Dong (BUC): gĕ̤ng
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): kang / kong
(Teochew, Peng'im): gang¹

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: gōng
  - Zhuyin: ㄍㄨㄥ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: gong
  - Wade–Giles: kung¹
  - Yale: gūng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: gong
  - Palladius: гун (gun)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /kʊŋ⁵⁵/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: gung¹
  - Yale: gūng
  - Cantonese Pinyin: gung¹
  - Guangdong Romanization: gung¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /kʊŋ⁵⁵/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: guung¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /kɵŋ³³/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: gĕ̤ng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /køyŋ⁵⁵/
Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kang
  - Tâi-lô: kang
  - Phofsit Daibuun: kafng
  - IPA (Xiamen): /kaŋ⁴⁴/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kong
  - Tâi-lô: kong
  - Phofsit Daibuun: kofng
  - IPA (Xiamen): /kɔŋ⁴⁴/

Note:

kang - vernacular;
kong - literary.

- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: gang¹
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: kang
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /kaŋ³³/

Definitions

紅

^† Substitute character for 功 (gōng).
^† Substitute character for 工 (gōng).
女紅／女红 ― nǚgōng ― the feminine arts (e.g. needlework, sewing, embroidery)
Placename in the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period in Chinese history, northeast of modern Tai'an, Shandong.

Compounds

Derived terms from 紅

女紅／女红

紅女／红女

Pronunciation 3

Mandarin
(Pinyin): jiàng (jiang⁴)
(Zhuyin): ㄐㄧㄤˋ
Cantonese (Jyutping): gong³

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: jiàng
  - Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄤˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: jiàng
  - Wade–Giles: chiang⁴
  - Yale: jyàng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jianq
  - Palladius: цзян (czjan)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕjɑŋ⁵¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: gong³
  - Yale: gong
  - Cantonese Pinyin: gong³
  - Guangdong Romanization: gong³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /kɔːŋ³³/

Definitions

紅

^† Substitute character for 絳／绛 (jiàng).

References

“Entry #5382”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (in Chinese and Min Nan), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2011.

Japanese

Kanji

紅

(grade 6 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

Go-on: ぐ (gu)
Kan-on: こう (kō, Jōyō)
Kan’yō-on: く (ku, Jōyō ^†)
Kun: くれない (kurenai, 紅, Jōyō)^{←くれなゐ (kurenawi, historical)}; べに (beni, 紅, Jōyō); あかい (akai, 紅い); もみ (momi, 紅)
Nanori: あかし (akashi); あかね (akane); あかり (akari); いろ (iro); かのう (kanō); くう (kū); くれ (kure); くれい (kurei); くれお (kureo); くれな (kurena); くれん (kuren); まどか (madoka); れな (rena)

Compounds

See 紅/derived terms § Kanji.

Etymology 1

紅 (kurenai, beni, kō): hexadecimal color code #D71345

紅 (kurenai, beni): the safflower, Carthamus tinctorius

Kanji in this term
紅
くれない Grade: 6
kun’yomi

⟨kure no₂ awi⟩ → /kurenawi/ → /kurenai/

From Old Japanese.

Shift from 呉の藍 (Kure no ai),[1][2] itself a compound of 呉 (Kure, “China”) +‎ の (no, possessive particle) +‎ 藍 (ai, “indigo → dye”)). The safflower, from which the crimson dye was extracted, was brought to Japan from China.

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) くれない [kùrénáí] (Heiban – [0])[2]
IPA^(key): [kɯ̟ᵝɾe̞na̠i]

Noun

紅(くれない) • (kurenai) ^{←くれなゐ (kurenawi)^?}

the color crimson, a vivid red edging towards pink
Synonyms: 紅色 (kurenai-iro, kōshoku, beni-iro), 丹紅 (tankō)
the safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), from which this color is extracted
Synonyms: 呉の藍 (Kure no ai), 紅花 (kōka, benibana), 末摘花 (suetsumuhana)
- 905, Kokin Wakashū (book 13, poem 661)
  紅(くれなゐ)の色(いろ)にはいでじ隠(かく)れ沼(ぬ)の下(した)にかよひて恋(こひ)は死(し)ぬとも
  kurenai no iro ni wa ideji kakure nu no shita ni kayoite koi wa shinu to mo
  I shall not show it as a safflower flaunts its red―not though I perish of a love kept as secret as streams in a hidden marsh.[3]
a 伽羅 (kyara)-class incense

Derived terms

See 紅/derived terms § Crimson (Japanese).

Proverbs

紅(くれない)は園(その)生(う)に植(う)えても隠(かく)れなし (kurenai wa sonou ni uete mo kakure nashi, “safflower standing out in a garden does not hide → a superior person attracts attention”)
柳(やなぎ)は緑(みどり)花(はな)は紅(くれない) (yanagi wa midori hana wa kurenai, “willows are green, flowers are red → natural; world is different”)

Proper noun

紅(くれない) • (Kurenai) ^{←くれなゐ (kurenawi)^?}

a female given name
a surname

Etymology 2

紅 (beni): lipstick

紅 (beni): rouge

Kanji in this term
紅
べに Grade: 6
kun’yomi

*/peni/ → /beni/

First attested in The Pillow Book, completed in 1002.

Shift from *heni, attested in the Wamyō Ruijushō (938 CE) with the original sense of "rouge".

The ni is definitely 丹 (ni, “red earth, cinnabar”), while the initial pe/be remains uncertain.

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) べに [béꜜnì] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
IPA^(key): [be̞ɲ̟i]

Noun

紅(べに) • (beni)

the color crimson, a vivid red edging towards pink
Synonyms: 紅色 (kurenai-iro, kōshoku, beni-iro), 丹紅 (tankō)
Short for 紅花 (benibana). the safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), from which this color is extracted
the crimson pigment extracted from safflower petals, used in cosmetics and as a food coloring
Synonym: 臙脂 (enji)
rouge (red cosmetic traditionally made from safflowers)
Synonym: 頬紅 (hōbeni)
lipstick, lip liner (also traditionally made from safflowers)
Synonym: 口紅 (kuchibeni)

Derived terms

See 紅/derived terms § Crimson (2) (Japanese).

Idioms

紅(べに)をさす (beni o sasu, “apply crimson (in face or using a lipstick) → blush; flush; to go red in the face, as from shame or anger”)

Proper noun

紅(べに) • (Beni)

a female given name
a surname

Etymology 3

紅 (aka): hexadecimal color code #FF0000

Kanji in this term
紅
あか Grade: 6
kun’yomi

Alternate spelling for 赤 (aka, “red”).

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) あか [áꜜkà] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
IPA^(key): [a̠ka̠]

Noun

紅(あか) • (aka)

Alternative spelling of 赤 (aka, “red”)

Usage notes

The 紅 spelling for aka carries connotations of a deeper red or crimson color.

Proper noun

紅(あか) • (Aka)

a female given name

Etymology 4

紅 (momi): A princess doll showing the momi kimono liner.

Kanji in this term
紅
もみ Grade: 6
kun’yomi

From 揉み (momi, “kneading”, stem form of verb momu), by extension from the kneading of cloth during the dyeing process.

Alternative forms

紅絹

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) もみ [móꜜmì] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
IPA^(key): [mo̞mʲi]

Noun

紅(もみ) • (momi)

silk cloth dyed an even shade of one color, often a deep gold dyed again with crimson, traditionally used as a kimono liner
Synonym: 本紅 (hon-momi)

Derived terms

See 紅/derived terms § Silk cloth (Japanese).

Proper noun

紅(もみ) • (Momi)

a female given name

Etymology 5

紅 (kō): hexadecimal color code #D71345

Kanji in this term
紅
こう Grade: 6
kan’on

From Middle Chinese 紅 (MC ɦuŋ).

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) こー [kóꜜò] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
IPA^(key): [ko̞ː]

Noun

紅(こう) • (kō)

the color crimson, a vivid red edging towards pink
Synonym: 紅色 (kurenai-iro, kōshoku, beni-iro)

Idioms

紅(こう)をさす (kō o sasu), 紅(こう)を潮(ちょう)す (kō o chōsu, “show the crimson → blush; flush; to go red in the face, as from shame or anger”)

Derived terms

See 紅/derived terms § Crimson (3) (Japanese).

Affix

紅(こう) • (kō)

crimson
safflower
female
Substitute character for 工: work done by women

Proper noun

紅(こう) • (Kō)

a female given name

References

1995, 大辞泉 (Daijisen) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
Helen Craig McCullough (1985) Brocade by Night: Kokin Wakashū and the Court Style in Japanese Classical Poetry, Stanford University Press, →ISBN, page 264

Korean

Hanja

紅 (eumhun 붉을 홍 (bulgeul hong))

This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Hanja

紅 (eumhun 상복 공 (sangbok gong))

This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Old Japanese

Etymology

Shift from 呉の藍 (Kure no₂ awi),[1][2] itself a compound of 呉 (Kure, “China”) +‎ の (no₂, possessive particle) +‎ 藍 (awi, “indigo → dye”).

Noun

紅 (kurenawi) (kana くれなゐ)

a safflower, Carthamus tinctorius
- c. 759, Man'yōshū (book 19, poem 4139), text here
  春苑紅尓保布桃花下照道尓出立𡢳嬬
  paru no₂ so₂no₂ kurenawi nipopu momo no₂ pana sitaderu mi₁ti ni idetatu woto₂me₁
  (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Derived terms

紅の (kurenawi no₂, pillow word)
紅色 (kurenawi-iro₂)
紅の末摘花 (kurenawi no₂ suwetumupana)

Descendants

Japanese: 紅 (くれない, kurenai)

References

1995, 大辞泉 (Daijisen) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

Vietnamese

Han character

紅: Hán Việt readings: hồng (胡(hồ)公(công)切(thiết))[1][2][3][4][5], hường[5]
紅: Nôm readings: hồng[1][2][4][5][3], hường[2][6][5], hông[7]

chữ Hán form of hồng (“red”).
Nôm form of hường (“rose”).

Compounds

See 紅/derived terms § Vietnamese.

References

Nguyễn (2014).
Nguyễn et al. (2009).
Trần (2004).
Bonet (1899).
Génibrel (1898).
Hồ (1976).
Taberd & Pigneau de Béhaine (1838).

[DJS-1] 1995, 大辞泉 (Daijisen) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

[DJR-2] 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[3] Helen Craig McCullough (1985) Brocade by Night: Kokin Wakashū and the Court Style in Japanese Classical Poetry, Stanford University Press, →ISBN, page 264

[4] 1995, 大辞泉 (Daijisen) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

[5] 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[tdcndg-6] Nguyễn (2014).

[tdcntd-7] Nguyễn et al. (2009).

[gdhn-8] Trần (2004).

[bonet-9] Bonet (1899).

[genibrel-10] Génibrel (1898).

[btcn-11] Hồ (1976).

[taberd-12] Taberd & Pigneau de Béhaine (1838).