青 qīng — blue-green, youth · English

青

qīng

blue-green, youth

At a glance · 青

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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.

小篆从生从丹，形声（或会意），本指草木初生青色与矿物青色。隶楷作「青」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「青」本指青色（蓝绿之间），泛指年轻、生机。

Structure

形声字，生为意符，丹为声符（一说会意生丹）。

At a glance

Pinyinqīng

Radical青

Strokes8

UnicodeU+9752

Character type形声

Theme颜色

Six languages, one character

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

English blue-green, youth Blue-green or black; youth, green.

Français bleu-vert, jeunesse Bleu-vert ou noir; jeunesse, verdure.

Español verde-azulado, juventud Verde azulado o negro; juventud, verdor.

العربية أزرق مخضرٌّ، شباب أزرق مخضّر أو شباب.

Русский сине-зелёный, юность Сине-зелёный; молодость, юность.

Common words

青年qīng niányouth
青qīnggreen/blue

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