色 sè — color, look · English

色

sè

color, look

At a glance · 色

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

小篆从人从卪（卩，跪坐人形），会意人面上之容色。隶楷作「色」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「色」本指脸色，引申为颜色、神色、美色。

Structure

会意字，从人从卪，象人容色之形。

At a glance

Pinyinsè

Radical色

Strokes6

UnicodeU+8272

Character type会意

Theme颜色

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English color, look Color; facial expression; beauty.

Français couleur, teint Couleur; expression du visage; beauté.

Español color, semblante Color; expresión facial; belleza.

العربية لون، ملامح لون أو ملامح الوجه أو جمال.

Русский цвет, выражение Цвет; выражение лица; красота.

Common words

颜色yán sècolor
脸色liǎn sècomplexion

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