blue

Origin & mnemonic

This radical originates from a pictograph in oracle-bone script depicting blue-green color or a woven plant trap with water waves beneath, representing the natural blend of blue. Over time, it evolved into its modern form to denote blue, green, or any shade of green. In seal script, the character shows a structure resembling a plant trap with water, which was later simplified into the modern regular script form to represent blue-green and related concepts.

Mnemonic: A cross-like shape with two leaves on top—like green foliage growing from the verdant earth of nature.

• 青qīng🔊

  green

  HSK 5

  8 strokes

• 靑qīng🔊

  variant of 青[qing1]

  8 strokes

• 靓jìng🔊

  to make up (one's face)

  12 strokes

• 靔tiān🔊

  old variant of 天[tian1]

  12 strokes

• 靖jìng🔊

  (bound form) peaceful

  13 strokes

• 静jìng🔊

  still

  HSK 3

  14 strokes

• 靛diàn🔊

  indigo pigment

  16 strokes