清一色

qīngyīsè

idiom #45,589

Meanings

1 all one color
2 uniformly of one kind, all the same
3 mahjong: a hand made of one suit only

Characters

Examples

会场上清一色的西装革履。

Huìchǎng shàng qīngyīsè de xīzhuāng gélǚ.

Everyone in the hall was in a suit and tie, without exception.

这支队伍清一色都是女生。

Zhè zhī duìwǔ qīngyīsè dōu shì nǚshēng.

The team is all girls, without a single exception.

他和了一副清一色。

Tā húle yí fù qīngyīsè.

He won with a one-suit hand (qingyise) in mahjong.

Tips

history

Started as a mahjong term (all tiles of one suit). Li Baojia's 《官场现形记》 chapter 29 features a gambler who loves to make 清一色 hands. The metaphor spread to mean 'uniformly of one kind' — a group, a lineup, a style, etc.

Stroke Order

清 qīng

一 yī

色 sè