When you see a beautiful arc of colors in the sky after it rains, that's a rainbow! In Chinese, we call it 彩虹 (cǎi hóng).
The first character, 彩 (cǎi), means 'color' or 'colorful'. Think of all the bright colors in a rainbow!
The second character, 虹 (hóng), specifically refers to a rainbow. So, together, 彩虹 literally means 'colorful rainbow'.
You'll often hear people say things like “雨后有彩虹” (yǔ hòu yǒu cǎi hóng), which means 'After the rain, there is a rainbow.' It’s a very common and beautiful word to know!
When you hear the word "彩虹" (cǎi hóng), it means rainbow. This is a common noun you'll encounter, especially when talking about nature or colors. Imagine a beautiful arch of colors in the sky after it rains – that's a 彩虹.
You can use it in sentences like "雨后，我看到一道美丽的彩虹" (Yǔ hòu, wǒ kàn dào yī dào měi lì de cǎi hóng), meaning "After the rain, I saw a beautiful rainbow." It's a straightforward word that's good to know for basic descriptions.
When discussing the word 彩虹 (cǎihóng), which means 'rainbow' in English, it's interesting to consider its etymology and cultural significance. The character 彩 (cǎi) literally means 'color' or 'colorful,' and it's a component you'll often see in words related to vibrancy and aesthetics, such as 色彩 (sècǎi) for 'color' or 精彩 (jīngcǎi) for 'wonderful' or 'brilliant.'
The character 虹 (hóng) specifically refers to the optical phenomenon itself. In ancient Chinese cosmology and mythology, rainbows were sometimes seen as bridges to other realms or as auspicious signs. This perception aligns with similar beliefs in various cultures worldwide, highlighting a shared human wonder at natural beauty. Understanding these nuances enriches one's appreciation of the word beyond a simple translation, connecting it to broader cultural and linguistic patterns.
§ Understanding '彩虹' in Real-World Contexts
When you're learning a new word, it's not enough to just know the definition. You need to know where and how people actually use it. For '彩虹' (cǎi hóng), meaning 'rainbow', you'll find it pops up in a few common areas. Let's break down where you're most likely to hear or read this word in everyday Chinese.
§ In Everyday Conversation and General News
The most common place you'll encounter '彩虹' is in simple, everyday conversation, especially when talking about nature, weather, or just general observations. It's a pretty visual word, so it's often used when describing something beautiful or a natural phenomenon. In news, it might appear in weather reports or stories about natural beauty.
- Definition
- 彩虹 (cǎi hóng): rainbow
看，天空中有一道彩虹！ (Kàn, tiānkōng zhōng yǒu yī dào cǎi hóng!)
Translation hint: Look, there's a rainbow in the sky!
雨后常常会出现彩虹。(Yǔ hòu chángcháng huì chūxiàn cǎi hóng.)
Translation hint: Rainbows often appear after rain.
§ In Literature and Media
'彩虹' is also a popular word in songs, poems, and stories. It often symbolizes hope, beauty, or a bridge between two worlds. You might hear it in children's songs or see it in titles of movies or books.
- Many children's songs use '彩虹' to talk about colors and happiness.
- In more poetic contexts, '彩虹' can represent fleeting beauty or a moment of wonder.
这首歌的名字叫《彩虹》。(Zhè shǒu gē de míngzì jiào "Cǎi hóng".)
Translation hint: The name of this song is "Rainbow."
§ Figurative Use
Sometimes, '彩虹' can be used figuratively, much like in English. For example, to describe a variety of colors, or even a sense of hope or promise.
她的画作色彩斑斓，像一道道彩虹。(Tā de huàzuò sècǎi bānlán, xiàng yī dào dào cǎi hóng.)
Translation hint: Her paintings are colorful, like rainbows.
So, while '彩虹' is a simple word, its usage extends beyond just literal rainbows. Keep an ear out for it in different contexts, and you'll quickly get a feel for how native speakers use it.
§ Similar words and when to use 彩虹 (cǎihóng)
When you're talking about a rainbow in Chinese, 彩虹 (cǎihóng) is the primary and most common word you'll use. It literally means 'colorful arch' or 'colorful bridge', which is a pretty accurate description, right?
Are there alternatives? Not really. For a literal rainbow in the sky, 彩虹 (cǎihóng) is almost always the word. There aren't many direct synonyms that native speakers would use interchangeably in everyday conversation. You wouldn't say something like 'color bridge' instead of 彩虹 (cǎihóng) to refer to a rainbow.
However, if you are talking about something that is rainbow-colored, you might modify other words. For example:
- If you want to describe a 'rainbow-colored flag', you would say 彩虹旗 (cǎihóng qí). Here, 彩虹 (cǎihóng) acts as an adjective.
- For 'rainbow-colored clothes', you could say 彩虹色的衣服 (cǎihóng sè de yīfu), where 色 (sè) means 'color'.
她穿了一件彩虹色的裙子。
- Translation hint
- She wore a rainbow-colored dress.
So, in summary, when you see a rainbow in the sky after the rain, you use 彩虹 (cǎihóng). If you're describing something that has many colors like a rainbow, you can use 彩虹 (cǎihóng) as part of a compound word or with 色 (sè).
Let's look at another example:
雨后出现了美丽的彩虹。
- Translation hint
- After the rain, a beautiful rainbow appeared.
This is the most common and natural way to use 彩虹 (cǎihóng). Don't overthink it for this word; stick with 彩虹 (cǎihóng) for actual rainbows. Your goal is to communicate clearly, and using the standard word is always the best approach.
How Formal Is It?
"雨过天晴，空中架起一道七彩霓虹。"
"雨后常常能看到彩虹。"
"快看！有彩虹！"
"大大的彩虹真好看！"
"你这彩虹屁拍得真响亮。"
उच्चारण मार्गदर्शिका
- confusing 'c' with 'ch'
- not articulating the 'i' sound distinctly after 'c'
- not aspirating 'h' enough
कठिनाई स्तर
short and common characters
short and common characters
easy to pronounce
clear pronunciation
आगे क्या सीखें
आगे सीखें
उन्नत
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
雨后，天空中出现了一道美丽的彩虹。
After the rain, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky.
孩子们看到彩虹都非常开心。
The children were all very happy to see the rainbow.
彩虹有七种颜色。
Rainbows have seven colors.
我喜欢彩虹的颜色，特别是红色和橙色。
I like the colors of the rainbow, especially red and orange.
传说彩虹的尽头有宝藏。
Legend says there is treasure at the end of the rainbow.
你见过双层彩虹吗？
Have you ever seen a double rainbow?
画中的彩虹看起来很逼真。
The rainbow in the painting looks very realistic.
希望像彩虹一样，带来好心情。
Hope is like a rainbow, bringing good mood.
我从来没有见过彩虹，所以我很期待看到它。
I have never seen a rainbow before, so I am really looking forward to seeing one.
下雨过后，天上出现了一道美丽的彩虹。
After the rain, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky.
孩子们在公园里追逐彩虹的影子，玩得很开心。
The children had a great time chasing the shadow of the rainbow in the park.
彩虹有七种颜色，你知道是哪七种吗？
A rainbow has seven colors, do you know which seven they are?
听说在彩虹的尽头有宝藏。
I heard there's treasure at the end of the rainbow.
她喜欢彩虹，所以她的房间里有很多彩虹图案的装饰。
She likes rainbows, so her room has many rainbow-patterned decorations.
我们希望生活就像彩虹一样，充满色彩和希望。
We hope life is like a rainbow, full of color and hope.
他用彩虹的颜色画了一幅画。
He painted a picture using the colors of the rainbow.
雨后，天空中出现了一道美丽的彩虹，七彩斑斓，令人惊叹。
After the rain, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky, colorful and astonishing.
孩子们看到彩虹都兴奋地跑出屋外，指着它欢呼雀跃。
Upon seeing the rainbow, the children excitedly ran out of the house, pointing and cheering.
传说在彩虹的尽头藏着宝藏，许多人梦想着去寻找。
Legend has it that treasure is hidden at the end of a rainbow, and many dream of finding it.
她的笑容像彩虹一样，总是能带给人们温暖和希望。
Her smile is like a rainbow, always bringing warmth and hope to people.
虽然彩虹短暂，但它留下的美好回忆却能永存心间。
Although rainbows are fleeting, the beautiful memories they leave behind can last forever in one's heart.
艺术家们用画笔描绘彩虹的绚丽色彩，表达对生活的热爱。
Artists use brushes to depict the brilliant colors of a rainbow, expressing their love for life.
这件衣服的颜色像彩虹一样，从深到浅，过渡自然。
The colors of this dress are like a rainbow, transitioning naturally from dark to light.
愿你的生活充满阳光和彩虹，每天都充满惊喜。
May your life be filled with sunshine and rainbows, and surprises every day.
雨后，天空中挂着一道美丽的彩虹，仿佛连接着天堂与人间。
After the rain, a beautiful rainbow hung in the sky, as if connecting heaven and earth.
仿佛 (fǎngfú) is an adverb meaning 'as if' or 'like'.
孩子们看到彩虹都兴奋地跳起来，指着它不停地喊叫。
The children all jumped up excitedly when they saw the rainbow, pointing at it and shouting continuously.
不停地 (bùtíngde) means 'continuously' or 'without stopping'.
彩虹的七种颜色交织在一起，形成了一幅绚丽多彩的画卷。
The seven colors of the rainbow intertwined, forming a splendid and colorful scroll painting.
交织 (jiāozhī) means 'to interweave' or 'to intertwine'.
有人说彩虹的尽头藏着宝藏，引发了无数人的遐想。
Some say that treasure is hidden at the end of the rainbow, sparking countless people's imagination.
遐想 (xiáxiǎng) means 'reverie' or 'wild fancy'.
在阳光的照射下，瀑布的水雾中也出现了小小的彩虹。
Under the sunlight, small rainbows also appeared in the mist of the waterfall.
照射 (zhàoshè) means 'to shine upon' or 'to illuminate'.
彩虹是短暂的，但它留给人们的美好记忆却是永恒的。
Rainbows are fleeting, but the beautiful memories they leave with people are eternal.
短暂 (duǎnzàn) means 'short-lived' or 'brief'.
画家试图用画笔捕捉彩虹的瞬间美，但总觉得无法完全呈现其神韵。
The painter tried to capture the fleeting beauty of the rainbow with a paintbrush, but always felt unable to fully present its charm.
神韵 (shényùn) refers to the 'spirit' or 'charm' of something.
在某些文化中，彩虹被视为吉祥的象征，预示着好运和希望。
In some cultures, rainbows are considered auspicious symbols, foreshadowing good luck and hope.
象征 (xiàngzhēng) means 'symbol' or 'token'.
मुहावरे और अभिव्यक्तियाँ
"雨过天晴 (yǔ guò tiān qíng)"
After the rain, the sky clears up; everything is well after a difficulty.
生活就像雨过天晴，总会有彩虹出现。(Life is like the sky clearing after rain, there will always be a rainbow.)
neutral"彩虹桥 (cǎi hóng qiáo)"
Rainbow bridge; often used metaphorically for a beautiful, hopeful, or sometimes imagined connection.
我们心中的彩虹桥连接着彼此。(The rainbow bridge in our hearts connects us to each other.)
neutral"七色彩虹 (qī sè cǎi hóng)"
Seven-colored rainbow; emphasizes the traditional seven colors.
天空中出现了七色彩虹，非常美丽。(A seven-colored rainbow appeared in the sky, very beautiful.)
neutral"彩虹般的生活 (cǎi hóng bān de shēng huó)"
A rainbow-like life; a colorful, vibrant, or happy life.
她梦想着过上彩虹般的生活。(She dreams of living a rainbow-like life.)
neutral"看到彩虹 (kàn dào cǎi hóng)"
To see a rainbow; can be used literally or metaphorically for finding hope or a good outcome after a struggle.
经历风雨才能看到彩虹。(Only by experiencing wind and rain can you see a rainbow.)
neutral"彩虹的尽头 (cǎi hóng de jìn tóu)"
The end of the rainbow; often used to describe an elusive or difficult-to-reach goal, sometimes associated with good fortune.
传说彩虹的尽头有宝藏。(Legend says there is treasure at the end of the rainbow.)
neutral"彩虹色 (cǎi hóng sè)"
Rainbow-colored; refers to something having many bright colors like a rainbow.
她喜欢穿彩虹色的衣服。(She likes to wear rainbow-colored clothes.)
neutral"人生如彩虹 (rén shēng rú cǎi hóng)"
Life is like a rainbow; implying life has its ups and downs, but also beauty and hope.
有人说人生如彩虹，有明有暗。(Some say life is like a rainbow, with light and darkness.)
neutral"像彩虹一样 (xiàng cǎi hóng yī yàng)"
Like a rainbow; used to describe something beautiful, colorful, or transient.
她的笑容像彩虹一样灿烂。(Her smile is as brilliant as a rainbow.)
neutral"彩虹之约 (cǎi hóng zhī yuē)"
Rainbow covenant; often used in a religious or symbolic context to represent a promise or new beginning.
彩虹之约象征着和平与希望。(The rainbow covenant symbolizes peace and hope.)
formalशब्द परिवार
संज्ञा
विशेषण
इसे कैसे इस्तेमाल करें
The word 彩虹 (cǎihóng) literally means "colorful arch." It's the standard word for rainbow in Chinese. You'll hear it in everyday conversations and see it in written materials. When talking about a rainbow, you can simply say 彩虹. For example, to say "I saw a rainbow," you can say 我看到彩虹了 (wǒ kàndào cǎihóng le).
A common mistake is trying to overcomplicate the word or adding unnecessary classifiers. For instance, some learners might try to say something like "一条彩虹 (yī tiáo cǎihóng)" using the classifier for long, thin objects. While not strictly wrong, it's more natural and common to just say 彩虹. You generally don't need a classifier for 彩虹 unless you are specifically emphasizing one of a few rainbows. Keep it simple: 彩虹 is enough.
खुद को परखो 42 सवाल
Do you like the colors of the rainbow?
After the rain, you can often see a rainbow.
A rainbow has seven colors.
Read this aloud:
我从来没有见过双彩虹。
Focus: 双 (shuāng), 虹 (hóng)
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
彩虹真漂亮！
Focus: 彩 (cǎi), 虹 (hóng), 漂亮 (piàoliang)
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
你觉得彩虹是自然现象吗？
Focus: 现象 (xiànxiàng)
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The speaker likes rainbows after the rain.
The speaker is asking about a rainbow in the sky.
Children are chasing a rainbow in the park.
Read this aloud:
彩虹是雨后天空中的一道亮丽风景线。
Focus: cǎi hóng, liàng lì fēng jǐng xiàn
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
每当看到彩虹，我都会感到心情愉悦。
Focus: měi dāng, xīn qíng yú yuè
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
彩虹虽然短暂，但它的美丽却令人难忘。
Focus: suī rán duǎn zàn, nán wàng
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Describe a beautiful scene you've witnessed where a rainbow was present. Include details about what else you saw and how you felt.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
昨天我看到了一个非常美丽的彩虹。雨停了以后，太阳出来了，天上就出现了一道彩虹。彩虹的颜色很鲜艳，旁边还有一些白云。我感觉非常开心。
Imagine you are explaining what a rainbow is to someone who has never seen one. What would you say?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
彩虹是雨后在天空中出现的一种自然现象。它有很多美丽的颜色，像红色、橙色、黄色、绿色、蓝色、靛色和紫色。当阳光穿过空气中的小水滴时，光线就会被分解成这些颜色。
Write a short paragraph about how rainbows are often used in art or as symbols.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
彩虹经常出现在艺术作品中，比如画和照片。它常常被用作希望和好运的象征。在很多文化里，彩虹也代表着和平和新的开始。
根据短文，孩子们看到彩虹时做了什么？
Read this passage:
雨过天晴，空中出现了一道美丽的彩虹。孩子们高兴地指着天空，大声喊着“看，彩虹！”。彩虹的颜色非常鲜艳，红、橙、黄、绿、蓝、靛、紫，七种颜色清晰可见。它好像一座连接天地的桥。
根据短文，孩子们看到彩虹时做了什么？
短文里说“孩子们高兴地指着天空，大声喊着‘看，彩虹！’”。
短文里说“孩子们高兴地指着天空，大声喊着‘看，彩虹！’”。
根据短文，为什么很多人喜欢彩虹？
Read this passage:
很多人都喜欢彩虹，因为它给人带来快乐和希望。在一些传说中，彩虹的尽头藏着宝藏。虽然这只是一个故事，但彩虹的美丽确实让人感到幸福。
根据短文，为什么很多人喜欢彩虹？
短文明确提到“因为它给人带来快乐和希望”。
短文明确提到“因为它给人带来快乐和希望”。
根据短文，彩虹是如何形成的？
Read this passage:
科学家解释说，彩虹的形成是因为阳光穿过空气中的小水滴时，光线发生了折射和反射。这些水滴就像小棱镜一样，把白色的阳光分解成了不同颜色的光。
根据短文，彩虹是如何形成的？
短文说“彩虹的形成是因为阳光穿过空气中的小水滴时，光线发生了折射和反射”。
短文说“彩虹的形成是因为阳光穿过空气中的小水滴时，光线发生了折射和反射”。
This sentence describes the appearance of a rainbow after rain. '雨后' (after rain) sets the context, followed by '天空中' (in the sky) indicating the location. '出现' (appears) is the verb, and '一道彩虹' (a rainbow) is the object.
This sentence expresses the children's joy upon seeing a rainbow. '孩子们' (children) is the subject, '看到' (saw) is the verb. '美丽的彩虹' (beautiful rainbow) is what they saw, and '非常高兴' (very happy) describes their feeling.
This sentence describes a legend about rainbows. '传说' (legend has it) starts the sentence. '彩虹' (rainbow) is the subject, '是' (is) is the verb. '连接天地的桥梁' (a bridge connecting heaven and earth) describes what the rainbow is in the legend.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: “下雨过后，天空中常常会出现美丽的___。”
The sentence describes something beautiful appearing in the sky after rain, which is characteristic of a rainbow.
Which of the following sentences correctly uses the word “彩虹”?
The sentence uses '彩虹' metaphorically to describe a bridge, which is a common and appropriate usage. The other options contain factual inaccuracies or inappropriate uses.
Which of the following describes the conditions under which a '彩虹' is usually seen?
Rainbows are formed by the refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets, typically when the sun is shining after or during rain.
彩虹的颜色排列顺序是固定的。(Cǎihóng de yánsè páiliè shùnxù shì gùdìng de.) (The order of colors in a rainbow is fixed.)
The colors of a rainbow always appear in the same order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
只有在白天才能看到彩虹。(Zhǐyǒu zài báitiān cáinéng kàndào cǎihóng.) (Rainbows can only be seen during the day.)
Rainbows are caused by sunlight refracting through water droplets, so they require sunlight and are thus seen during the day. Moonbows exist but are much rarer and typically fainter.
彩虹是一种罕见的自然现象，每年只出现几次。(Cǎihóng shì yī zhǒng hǎnjiàn de zìrán xiànxiàng, měinián zhǐ chūxiàn jǐ cì.) (Rainbows are a rare natural phenomenon, appearing only a few times a year.)
Rainbows are a relatively common natural phenomenon, especially in areas with frequent rain and sunshine.
The speaker is describing a beautiful rainbow.
The speaker is asking about a legend related to rainbows.
The speaker is talking about a rainbow appearing after rain.
Read this aloud:
你能用中文描述一下你记忆中最深刻的彩虹吗？
Focus: 记忆 (jìyì) - memory, 深刻 (shēnkè) - profound
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
如果彩虹真的能实现一个愿望，你会许什么愿？
Focus: 实现 (shíxiàn) - realize, 愿望 (yuànwàng) - wish
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
除了彩虹，还有哪些自然现象让你感到惊奇？
Focus: 自然现象 (zìrán xiànxiàng) - natural phenomena, 惊奇 (jīngqí) - surprised
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Focus on understanding the description of the rainbow after a heavy rain.
Listen for the cultural significance of the rainbow as a bridge.
Pay attention to how modern artists interpret the rainbow.
Read this aloud:
你认为彩虹在不同文化中有着怎样的象征意义？
Focus: 象征意义 (xiàngzhēng yìyì)
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
如果彩虹真的能连接两个世界，你最想去哪个世界，为什么？
Focus: 连接 (liánjiē)
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
描述一下你见过的最令人印象深刻的彩虹，它有什么特别之处？
Focus: 印象深刻 (yìnxiàng shēnkè)
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
उदाहरण
雨后天空中出现了美丽的彩虹。
