DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT
彩
Mandarin · pinyin cǎi
Meanings
- (bright) color
- variety
- applause
- applaud
- lottery prize
Characters in this entry
- 彩
- cǎi · hue, color; variegated colors
Explore the spelling
Mandarin tones
3 · cai3
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
Connected dictionary
1character link12same-tone records
Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.Read this spelling in Classical texts
Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 9 senses · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
coi2
Cantonese word readings for 彩. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack
Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character · Etymology 1
- variegated colors; rich and bright colors
- literary or artistic grace or talent; variety; gracefulness; brilliance
- applause; cheer
- blood from a wound
- lottery prize; winnings
- wager; stake; bet
- luck; fortune
- to be lucky (in gambling)
- a surname
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack