page_title: Color in Chinese culture
hierarchical_section_title: Color in Chinese culture
caption_attribution_description: Red paper lanterns for sale, Shanghai, 2012
context_page_description: Color in Chinese culture refers to the certain values that Chinese culture attaches to colors, like which colors are considered auspicious or inauspicious. The Chinese word for "color" is yánsè. In Classical Chinese, the character sè more accurately meant "color in the face", or "emotion". It was generally used alone and often implied sexual desire or desirability. During the Tang Dynasty, the word yánsè came to mean all color. A Chinese idiom which is used to describe many colors, Wǔyánliùsè, can also mean colors in general.
context_section_description: Color in Chinese culture  refers to the certain values that Chinese culture attaches to colors, like which colors are considered auspicious (吉利) or inauspicious (不利).  The Chinese word for "color" is yánsè (顏色). In Classical Chinese, the character sè (色) more accurately meant "color in the face", or "emotion". It was generally used alone and often implied sexual desire or desirability. During the Tang Dynasty, the word yánsè came to mean all color. A Chinese idiom which is used to describe many colors, Wǔyánliùsè (五颜六色), can also mean colors in general.
caption: Red paper lanterns for sale in Shanghai, 2012. The color red symbolizes luck and is believed to ward away evil.
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