胭脂

yānzhī

noun #30,775

Meanings

1 rouge
2 red cosmetic for cheeks or lips

Characters

Examples

HSK 5

古代女子用胭脂打扮自己。

Gǔdài nǚzǐ yòng yānzhī dǎban zìjǐ.

Women in ancient times used rouge to make themselves up.

HSK 7-9

她在脸上轻轻抹了点胭脂。

Tā zài liǎnshàng qīngqīng mǒ le diǎn yānzhī.

She lightly dabbed some rouge on her face.

Tips

history

Traditional 胭脂 was made by extracting red pigment from safflower 红花 petals. The name is said to derive from Mount Yan 焉支山 in Gansu, where the Xiongnu cultivated the dye plant - losing it to the Han was lamented as losing their women's beauty.

Stroke Order

胭 yān

脂 zhī