近朱者赤、青出于蓝……这些带颜色词的成语，都是什么意思？

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这些带颜色词成语，你知道是什么意思吗？

Do you know what these idioms involving colors mean?

黑

Black

文化贴士｜Cultural Tip

中国古代秦朝崇尚黑色，服饰、建筑等都以黑色为主色调。

The Qin Dynasty (221BC-207BC) advocated black, using it as the dominant color for clothing and architecture.

秦朝服饰与建筑（电影《英雄》剧照）

Qin Dynasty Costumes and Architecture 

(Stage photos from the movie Hero)

白纸黑字

Written in black ink on white paper

释义：白纸上写的黑字，指见于书面的确凿证据。

典故：“不要闲说，白纸上写着黑字哩。若有反悔之人，罚宝钞一千贯与不反悔之人使用。”（《看钱奴买冤家债主》）

例句：这件事你不承认不行，白纸黑字写得清清楚楚，是赖不掉的。

Interpretation：Literally “black letters written on white paper”, the idiom refers metaphorically to solid evidence in writing.

Allusion：“Don’t say that. It’s all written down in black on white paper. If anyone wishes out halfway, he shall pay 1000 strings of coins to those who remain, for penalty.”  (The Miser Who Watched His Pennies in Vain)

Example：Since it’s written in black letters on white paper, you’ve got no choice but to admit it.

颠倒黑白

Confounding black and white

释义：把黑的说成白的，白的说成黑的。比喻歪曲事实，混淆是非。

典故：“变白以为黑兮，倒上以为下。”（《九章·怀沙》）

例句：他在台下听到这些突如其来、颠倒黑白的恶毒语言，一下怔住了。

Interpretation：Literally “calling black white and white black on purpose”, the idiom metaphorically means distorting facts and confusing right with wrong.

Allusion：“[They] wantonly turned white into black and everything upside down.” (Nine Chapters: Last Thoughts of Changsha)

Example：He was stunned when he heard in the audience those unprovoked vicious words against facts.

白

White

白璧无瑕

Flawless white jade disc

释义：洁白的玉石上没有一点斑点。比喻人或事物完美，没有缺点。

典故：“问：‘不曾博览空王教略，借玄机试道看。’师曰：‘白玉无瑕，卞和刖足。’”（《景德传灯录》）

例句：孩子的纯洁、天真、白璧无瑕，使我忘却了现实生活中那种种不尽如人意的东西。

Interpretation：Literally “there is no single flaw on the white jade”, the idiom is used metaphorically to mean that someone or something is devoid of shortcomings.

Allusion：“Question: ‘I haven’t had the honor of learning the Buddha’s teaching. Could you show me its wonder and tell me what the Dao is?’” The Zen master said that “although the white jade is flawless, Bian He lost use of his feet because of it.” (Record of the Transmission of the Torch in the Jingde Era)

Example：The child’s artlessness, innocence, and flawlessness made me forget all the dissatisfaction in real life.

红

Red

文化贴士｜Cultural Tip

自汉朝以后，红色逐渐成为了尊贵之色。在当代中国，红色象征着吉祥、喜庆、庄重。

In the Han Dynasty (202BC-220AD), red gradually became a noble color. In contemporary China, it symbolizes auspiciousness, joy, and solemnity.

中式婚礼（电视剧《知否知否应是绿肥红瘦》剧照）

A Scene of Chinese Wedding

(Stage photo of the TV series The Story of Ming Lan)

红旗招展

With fluttering red flags

释义：形容气势壮大，场面热烈。

典故：“法正见曹兵倦怠，锐气已堕，多下马坐息，乃将红旗招展。鼓角齐鸣，喊声大震。”（《三国演义》）

例句：这天京城处处红旗招展，街头鲜花争奇斗艳。

Interpretation：The idiom is used to describe a strong momentum and a lively scene.

Allusion：“When Fazheng saw that the soldiers of Cao Cao had grown listless, lost their mettle, and began to dismount for a break, he asked his men to raise the red flags, beat the drums and toot the horns, raising a thunderous roar.” (The Romance of the Three Kingdoms)

Example：On the day, the capital was inundated in a sea of fluttering red flags, and the streets submerged in flowers in riotous bloom.

青

        Indigo Blue

青出于蓝

Indigo blue extracted from indigo plant is deeper than the plant itself

释义：青是从蓝草里提炼出来的，但颜色比蓝更深。比喻学生超过老师或后人胜过前人。

文化贴士：蓝草是一类植物的统称，凡可提取靛青色的植物均统称为蓝草，常见的有菘蓝、马蓝等。蓝草的根即著名的中药板蓝根，有杀菌消炎、清热解毒的功效。

典故：“青，取之于蓝，而青于蓝。”（《荀子·劝学》）

例句：二十多年来，她一直无私地传艺，希望有一天她的徒弟能青出于蓝。

Interpretation：Indigo blue is extracted from blue grass, but its color is even darker. The idiom is used as a metaphor to mean that the student surpasses the teacher or the descendant surpasses the predecessor.

Cultural Tip：Bluegrass is a collective name for a class of plants from which indigo can be extracted. Common ones include Isatis indica and horse blue. The root can be used as medicine; in fact, Isatis root is a famous Chinese medicine, effective for sterilization, anti-inflammation, heat dispersion and detoxification.

Allusion：“Indigo is extracted from the namesake grass, but it is bluer.” (Xunzi: Encouraging Learning)

Example：For more than 20 years, she has been selflessly imparting art, hoping that one day her apprentice will achieve greater success than her.

名垂青史

Stamping one’s name on the page of history

释义：把姓名事迹记载在历史书籍上。形容功业巨大，永垂不朽。

文化贴士：古人用青竹制成的竹简记载历史，所以有“青史”一说。

典故：“古人日以远，青史字不泯。”（《赠郑十八贲》）

例句：这里曾经诞生过一位名垂青史、家喻户晓的人物。

竹简（战国楚竹书）

Bamboo Slips

(Bamboo Books of Chu State in the Warring States Period)

Interpretation：Literally “having one’s name recorded in history books”, the idiom is used to describes great and immortal achievements. 

Cultural Tip：The ancients used green bamboo slips to record history. Hence there is the term “green history.”

Allusion：“Though they lived far away in history, their name has come down from generation to generation.” (To Zheng An the Magistrate)

Example：Here we once had a fellow-townsman who became a well-known figure in history.

绿

Green

绿水青山

Green water and green mountains

《千里江山图》卷（节选） 北宋 王希孟

“A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains” Scroll (Excerpt)

Northern Song Dynasty (960AD-1127AD), Wang Ximeng

释义：泛指美好山河。

典故：“问：‘牛头未见四祖时如何？’师曰：‘青山绿水。’曰：‘见后如何？’师曰：‘绿水青山。’”（《五灯会元》）

例句：保护环境，让蓝天白云永驻，愿绿水青山长留。

Interpretation：The idiom is used to refer to beautiful landscape.

Allusion：“Question: ‘How did you come to revelation before meeting the four Buddha?’ The Zen master said: “By giving myself a free rein in the green hills and green waters.’ ‘What happened afterwards?’ The Zen master replied: “I gave myself a free rein in the green waters and green hills.’” (Five Lantern Records Combined)

Example：Let’s protect the environment, so that the blue sky and white clouds can stay forever, together with the green water and green mountains.

紫

Purple

文化贴士｜Cultural Tip

西周至春秋开始，服饰颜色就有了区分尊卑的功能。随着朝代的不断更替，“紫”开始显贵起来，成为了贵族喜爱的颜色。

From the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046BC-771BC) to the beginning of the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC), color of clothing became the standard for differentiating ranks. With the continuous change of dynasties, “purple” gradually became synonymous with nobility and became their favorite color.

紫色朝服（电视剧《清平乐》剧照）

Purple Court Costume

(Stage photo from TV series Serenade of Peaceful Joy)

紫气东来

The purple air comes from the east

释义：旧时比喻吉祥的征兆。

典故：“老子西游，关令尹喜望见有紫气浮关，而老子果乘青牛而过也。”（《列仙传》）

例句：这座院子坐北朝南，院门朝向东南方向，主人家说，这象征着紫气东来。

Interpretation：This idiom means an auspicious omen in ancient time.

Allusion：“When Lao Tzu was on a journey to the west, Yin Xi the Magistrate of Hanguguan Pass saw a purple air mass floating above the Pass. Later, Lao Tzu passed by on a black ox.” (Legend of Immortals)

Example：This yard has a southern exposure, with the gate facing southeast. The host said that this arrangement symbolizes the coming of purple air from the east.

褐

Brown

文化贴士｜Cultural Tip

“褐”在古代中国主要是指粗毛粗麻织成的服饰的颜色。

In ancient China, brown mainly referred to the color of apparel woven from coarse wool or hemp.

麻料衣物（电视剧《射雕英雄传》剧照）

Linen Apparel 

(Stage photo from the TV series The Legend of the Condor Heroes)

被褐怀玉

Wearing coarse clothing but holding exquisite jade 

释义：身穿粗布衣服而怀抱美玉。比喻虽出身贫寒，但有真才实学。

典故：“知我者希，则我者贵，是以圣人被褐怀玉。”（《老子》）

例句：他看着邋里邋遢，却是被褐怀玉之人，非常有才华。

Interpretation：Literally “wearing coarse cloth but holding exquisite jade”, the idiom means genuine talent and scholarship despite humble birth.

Allusion：“Those who truly understand my theory are few and sparse, while those who act according to it are even fewer. Therefore, saints are known for their invaluable thought under plain appearances.” (Laozi)

Example：Don’t judge him by his unkempt looks; he is very talented.

朱

    Vermilion

文化贴士｜Cultural Tip

“朱”是古代最正的红色。在中国建筑文化中，宫殿、庙宇及贵族宅邸的建筑物上的许多构件都用朱红色来涂抹。

Vermilion is the most important red in ancient China. In Chinese architecture, many components of palaces, temples and aristocratic residences are painted vermilion.

故宫

The Forbidden City

近朱者赤，近墨者黑

You can’t touch cinnabar without being tainted red or touch ink without being tainted black.

释义：靠着朱砂的变红，靠着墨的变黑。比喻接近好人可以使人变好，接近坏人可以使人变坏。指客观环境对人有很大影响。

典故：“故近朱者赤，近墨者黑；声和则响清，形正则影直。”（《太子少傅箴》）

例句：近朱者赤，近墨者黑，生活和学习环境在很大程度上影响着孩子们的成长。

Interpretation：Contact with cinnabar gives a red tinge, while contact with ink gives a black tinge. Metaphorically, the idiom means that the company of a virtuous person can make one a gentleman, while that of a villain can turn one into a villain. It accentuates the influence of the objective environment on people.

Allusion：“Therefore, those who are near cinnabar become red, and those who are near ink turn black; a harmonious voice sounds clear and melodious while an upright posture produces a straight shadow.” (Letter of the Crown Prince’s Teacher)

Example：If you live with a lame person, you will learn to limp. The living and learning environment affects the growth of children to a large extent. 

朱颜鹤发

Rosy cheeks and grey hair

释义：红润的脸和像鹤羽毛一样白的头发。形容老年人精神焕发的样子。

典故：“天上姮娥元不老，人间紫府长春。朱颜鹤发更清新。”（《临江仙》）

例句：那老者朱颜鹤发，气势十足，精神很好。

Interpretation：Literally “a ruddy face and hair as white as crane feathers”, the idiom is used to mean the radiant face of an elderly person.

Allusion：“In heaven, Chang’e the fairy is immortal, and in the residence of immortals, it is spring all year around. The silvery hair and ruddy complexions are refreshing.” (Tune: Immortals of Linjiang)

Example：The old man with silvery hair and a ruddy complexion is full of vigor and spirit.

这些带颜色词的成语你学会了吗？

How do you like these idioms involving colors?

往期精选

内容编辑：吴晓静 刘希 杨立梦（实习）

美术编辑：杨立梦（实习）

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