白

白 U+767D, 白 ← 發[U+767C] CJK Unified Ideographs 百 →[U+767E] ⽩ U+2F69, ⽩ ← ⽨[U+2F68] Kangxi Radicals ⽪ →[U+2F6A] Stroke order

白 (Kangxi radical 106, 白+0, 5 strokes, Cangjie input 竹日 (HA), four-corner 26000, composition ⿱丿日)

1. Kangxi radical #106, ⽩.

• Appendix:Chinese radical/白
• 伯, 㕷, 岶, 帕, 怕, 拍, 泊, 狛, 柏, 珀, 胉, 砶, 䄸, 袙, 粕, 絈, 舶, 貃, 鉑 (铂), 鮊 (鲌)
• 廹, 迫, 䞟, 劰, 敀, 㼟, 䎅, 魄, 䳆, 㒵, 㚖, 帛, 泉, 㒶, 苩
• 習 (in current form)

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 785, character 1
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 22678
• Dae Jaweon: page 1196, character 1
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 4, page 2642, character 1
• Unihan data for U+767D

simp. and trad. 白

Two theories:

• pictogram (象形) of an acorn. Compare 櫟／栎 (lì).
• A human head. Compare 皃 (貌 (mào)) and 黑 (hēi).

Possibly part of a phonetic family contrasting stop initials (P/B) for exposure/brightness against nasal initials (M) for concealment/darkness; compare 黑 (OC *m̥ˤək) and 白 (OC *bˤrak).

STEDT derives it from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *bawk (“white”), whence also Proto-Bodo-Garo *bok (“white”), Limbu ᤑ (phô, “white”); also compare Proto-Mon-Khmer *kɓɔɔk (“white, grey”).

However, Schuessler (2007) finds it difficult to reconcile these forms with Middle Chinese due to the lack of medial r. Instead, he proposes a derivation from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *bar (“white”) with -k extension, thus cognate with 皤 (OC *baːl, “white”) (Wang, 1982), Mizo vâr (“(to be) white”), Proto-Karen *ʔ(b)wa (“white”).

白

1. white 白色 ― báisè ― white color 白茶 ― báichá ― white tea
2. clear; easy to understand 明白 ― míngbai ― clear, obvious 淺白／浅白 ― qiǎnbái ― simple
3. clear; pure; plain; blank 白紙／白纸 ― báizhǐ ― a blank sheet of paper 白卷 ― báijuàn ― blank exam paper 白水 ― báishuǐ ― plain water 白粥 ― báizhōu ― plain congee
4. bright; well-lit
   • 凡殤與無後者，祭於宗子之家，當室之白，尊於東房，是謂陽厭。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]凡殇与无后者，祭于宗子之家，当室之白，尊于东房，是谓阳厌。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]From: The Book of Rites, c. 4th – 2nd century BCEFánshāng yǔ wúhòu zhě, jì yú zōngzǐ zhī jiā, dāng shì zhī bái, zūn yú dōng fáng, shì wèi yángyàn. [Pinyin]In regard to all others who have died prematurely and have left no offspring, the sacrifice is offered to them in the house of the oldest son, where the apartment is the most light, with the vases in the chamber on the east. This is what is called the bright satisfying offering.
   • 相與枕藉乎舟中，不知東方之既白。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]相与枕藉乎舟中，不知东方之既白。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]From: 1082, 蘇軾 (Su Shi), 《前赤壁賦》Xiàngyǔ zhěnjiè hū zhōu zhōng, bù zhī dōngfāng zhī jì bái. [Pinyin]The cups and plates leaned against one another in the boat, and we did not know the East has already turned bright white.
5. eminent; prominent
   • 是故窮則不隱，通則大明，身死而名彌白。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]是故穷则不隐，通则大明，身死而名弥白。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]From: Xunzi, c. 3rd century BCEShìgù qióng zé bù yǐn, tōng zé dà míng, shēn sǐ ér míng mí bái. [Pinyin]Therefore, the superior man, when in poverty or distress, is not obscured, and when his life is smooth, he becomes more famous. After his death, his reputation becomes even more prominent.
6. vernacular 白話／白话 ― báihuà ― spoken language
7. dialect 蘇白／苏白 ― sūbái ― Suzhou dialect 京白 ― jīngbái ― Beijing dialect
8. short for 白讀／白读 (báidú, “colloquial reading”)
9. reactionary; anticommunist 白軍／白军 ― báijūn ― The White army 白區／白区 ― báiqū ― The White area 白色恐怖 ― báisèkǒngbù ― the White terror
10. in vain; for nothing 我們沒有白忙。／我们没有白忙。 ― Wǒmen méiyǒu bái máng. ― Our efforts were not in vain. 她白等了。 ― Tā bái děng le. ― She waited in vain. 他們的血沒有白流。 [MSC, trad.]他们的血没有白流。 [MSC, simp.]Tāmen de xuè méiyǒu bái liú. [Pinyin]Their blood was not shed in vain. 所有的工作都白做了。 [MSC, trad. and simp.]Suǒyǒu de gōngzuò dōu bái zuò le. [Pinyin]All the work has been done for nothing. 白來一趟／白来一趟 ― bái lái yī tàng ― to come in vain; to come for nothing 白給的東西／白给的东西 ― báigěi de dōngxi ― something given for nothing
11. free of charge; gratuitous; gratis 你可以白拿走這些蘋果。 [MSC, trad.]你可以白拿走这些苹果。 [MSC, simp.]Nǐ kěyǐ bái názǒu zhè xiē píngguǒ. [Pinyin]You can have these apples for free.
12. to stare coldly; to stare at someone with the white of the eyes 她生氣地白了他一眼。 [MSC, trad.]她生气地白了他一眼。 [MSC, simp.]Tā shēngqì de bái le tā yīyǎn. [Pinyin]She gave him an angry stare.
13. to explain; to present; to state 自白 ― zìbái ― explain oneself, confess 開場白／开场白 ― kāichǎngbái ― preamble 表白 ― biǎobái ― to explain oneself 辯白／辩白 ― biànbái ― to explain, to defend oneself
14. to mispronounce or wrongly write a character 我老是寫白字讀破句。 [MSC, trad.]我老是写白字读破句。 [MSC, simp.]Wǒ lǎoshì xiě bái zì dúpòjù. [Pinyin]I always mispronounce words and break my sentences up in the wrong places. 我把這字念白了。 [MSC, trad.]我把这字念白了。 [MSC, simp.]Wǒ bǎ zhè zì niàn bái le. [Pinyin]I’ve mispronounced the character.
15. spoken lines 念白 ― niànbái ― spoken parts of a Chinese opera 道白 ― dàobái ― spoken parts of a Chinese opera 獨白／独白 ― dúbái ― monologue 對白／对白 ― duìbái ― dialogue
    • （白）無言獨上西樓，月如鉤…… [MSC, trad.]（白）无言独上西楼，月如钩…… [MSC, simp.](bái) Wúyán dú shàng xīlóu, yuè rú gōu…… [Pinyin](spoken:) Without words, I ascend the western tower by myself; the moon is like a hook […] (as may be displayed in the lyrics to Teresa Teng’s “Du shang xilou” (獨上西樓))
16. funeral 紅白喜事／红白喜事 ― hóngbáixǐshì ― weddings and funerals 白帖 [Hokkien] ― pe̍h-thiap [Pe̍h-ōe-jī] ― obituary
17. (Hokkien) bland and tasteless 白䭕／白𬲕 [Hokkien] ― pe̍h-chiáⁿ [Pe̍h-ōe-jī] ― bland and flavorless
18. (Hokkien) cooked with just water without adding any seasoning 白煠 [Hokkien] ― pe̍h-sa̍h [Pe̍h-ōe-jī] ― to cook with boiling water
19. (Hokkien) greasy; with a lot of fat or oil 白肉 [Hokkien] ― pe̍h-bah [Pe̍h-ōe-jī] ― fatty meat
20. (Hokkien) jargon; cant 販仔白／贩仔白 [Hokkien] ― hoàn-á-pe̍h [Pe̍h-ōe-jī] ― merchant jargon
21. (Mainland China Hokkien) frank speech 跋白 [Hokkien] ― poa̍h-pe̍h [Pe̍h-ōe-jī] ― to publicly disclose and get all the words and things clear in person
22. a surname, commonly romanized as Bai 白崇禧 ― Bái Chóngxǐ ― Bai Chongxi
23. (～族) Bai, an ethnic group living primarily in Yunnan, China

• (in vain): (Min Nan) 干

Others:

• → Proto-Southwestern Tai: *pʰɯəkᴰ¹ᴸ
  • Lao: ເຜືອກ (phư̄ak)
  • Thai: เผือก (pʉ̀ʉak)
• → Proto-Vietic: *baːk
  • Vietnamese: bạc
• → Vietnamese: bệch (“chalky; sickly white”)

Colors in Chinese · 顏色 / 颜色 (layout · text) 白色 灰色 黑色 紅色 / 红色, 赤色; 緋紅色 / 绯红色, 豔紅色 / 艳红色, 大紅 / 大红 橙色; 棕色, 褐色 黃色 / 黄色; 奶油色 青檸色 / 青柠色 綠色 / 绿色 青色; 深青色 湛藍色 / 湛蓝色, 蔚藍色 / 蔚蓝色, 天藍色 / 天蓝色 藍色 / 蓝色 紫羅蘭色 / 紫罗兰色; 靛色 洋紅色 / 洋红色; 紫色 粉紅色 / 粉红色

• “白”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2026.
• “白”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014-

(First grade kyōiku kanji)

• Go-on: びゃく (byaku, Jōyō)
• Kan-on: はく (haku, Jōyō)
• Sō-on: ぱい (pai)
• Kun: しろ (shiro, 白, Jōyō)、しら (shira, 白, Jōyō †)、しろい (shiroi, 白い, Jōyō)、もうす (mōsu, 白す)←まうす (mausu, 白す, historical)←まをす (mawosu, 白す, ancient)、しらむ (shiramu, 白む)
• Nanori: あき (aki)、あきら (akira)、か (ka)、きよ (kiyo)、きよし (kiyoshi)、し (shi)、しろし (shiroshi)、はっ (ha’)

Kanji in this term 白 しろGrade: 1 kun’yomi

⟨siro1⟩ → */sirʷo/ → /ɕiro/

From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *siro.

The standalone apophonic form of shira below.

• (Tokyo) しろ [shíꜜrò] (Atamadaka – [1])[1][2]
• IPA(key): [ɕiɾo̞]

白(しろ) • (shiro)

1. the color white Coordinate term: 黒 (kuro, “black”)
2. (by extension) innocence Coordinate term: 黒 (kuro, “guilt”)
3. (go) a white go stone
4. something unwritten
5. (colloquial) the white team in a 紅白 (kōhaku) group
6. (colloquial) an unlicensed prostitute Synonyms: 私娼 (shishō); see also Thesaurus:娼婦
7. (colloquial) short for 銀 (shirogane): silver
8. (colloquial) synonym of 塩 (shio): salt
9. (colloquial) short for 白書院 (shiroshoin): a specific kind of drawing room or study, using unpainted cedar wood with straight grain
10. a type of もつ焼き (motsuyaki) made from pig intestines
11. in the game of 人狼 (Jinrō, “Werewolf; Mafia”), one who is on the villagers’ side Antonym: 黒 (kuro) 確定白(かくていしろ)・確白(かくしろ)kakutei-shiro kakushiroone who is certainly on the villagers’ side

Kanji in this term 白 しらGrade: 1 kun’yomi

⟨sira⟩ → /ɕira/

From Old Japanese. The 被(ひ)覆(ふく)形(けい) (hifukukei, “bound form”)of 白(しろ) (shiro), mostly used in compounds.

• (Tokyo) しら [shíꜜrà] (Atamadaka – [1])[1] as an adjective
• IPA(key): [ɕiɾa̠]

白(しら) • (shira-)

1. Combining form of しろ (shiro) above:
   1. white
   2. undyed, unpainted, unseasoned, etc.
   3. pure
   4. innocent
   5. normal, unspecial

白(しら) • (shira) -na (adnominal 白(しら)な (shira na), adverbial 白(しら)に (shira ni))

1. unapplied, undecorated; also the object that is unapplied or undecorated
2. honest, serious; also the person who is honest or serious
3. normal, unspecial; also the person who is normal or unspecial in position, occupation, or condition

• 白(しら)を切(き)る (shira o kiru)

Kanji in this term 白 はくGrade: 1 kan’on

From Middle Chinese 白 (MC baek).

• (Tokyo) はく [háꜜkù] (Atamadaka – [1])[1][2]
• IPA(key): [ha̠kɯ̟]

白(はく) or 白(ハク) • (haku)

1. the color white
2. short for 白人 (hakujin): an amateur
3. a performer’s lines Synonym: 台詞 (serifu)
4. (mahjong) a white dragon tile Synonym: 白板 (paipan) Hypernym: 三元牌 (sangenpai)
5. (mahjong) a 役 (yaku, “winning hand”) with a triplet or quad of white dragon tiles, worth 1 翻 (han, “double”) Hypernym: 役牌 (yakuhai, yaku-pai)

• 三(さん)元(げん)牌(パイ) (sangenpai, “dragon tiles”): 白(ハク) (haku, “white dragon”), 發(ハツ)/𤼵(ハツ) (hatsu, “green dragon”), 中(チュン) (chun, “red dragon”)

白(はく) • (haku)

1. white
2. colorless, dirtless, markless
3. bright and clear
4. humbly say
5. sake cup
6. short for 白居易 (Haku Kyoi): Bai Juyi

Kanji in this term 白 びゃくGrade: 1 goon

From Middle Chinese 白 (MC baek).

白(びゃく) • (byaku)

1. white

Colors in Japanese · 色(いろ) (iro) (layout · text) 白(しろ) (shiro) 灰(はい)色(いろ) (haiiro),鼠(ねずみ)色(いろ) (nezumiiro) (dated) 黒(くろ) (kuro) 赤(あか) (aka); 深(しん)紅(く) (shinku),クリムゾン (kurimuzon),紅(べに)色(いろ) (beniiro),紅(くれない)色(いろ) (kurenaiiro),茜(あかね)色(いろ) (akaneiro) 橙(だいだい)色(いろ) (daidaiiro),オレンジ (orenji); 茶(ちゃ)色(いろ) (chairo),褐(かっ)色(しょく) (kasshoku) 黄(き)色(いろ) (kiiro); クリーム色(いろ) (kurīmuiro) 黄(き)緑(みどり) (kimidori) 緑(みどり) (midori),青(あお) (ao) (dated) 若(わか)緑(みどり) (wakamidori) 水(みず)色(いろ) (mizuiro),シアン (shian); 鴨(かも)の羽(はね)色(いろ) (kamo no hane iro) 空(そら)色(いろ) (sorairo), 縹(はなだ) (hanada); 青(あお) (ao) 紺(こん)藍(あい) (kon’ai);紺(こん) (kon) 菫(すみれ)色(いろ) (sumireiro); 藍(あい)色(いろ) (aiiro),インジゴ (injigo) 赤(あか)紫(むらさき) (akamurasaki),マゼンタ (mazenta); 紫(むらさき) (murasaki) 桃(もも)色(いろ) (momoiro),ピンク (pinku)

• “白”, in 漢字ぺディア [Kanjipedia]‎[2] (in Japanese), The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, 2015-2026

From Middle Chinese 白 (MC baek).

白 (eumhun 흰 백 (huin baek))

1. hanja form? of 백 (“white”)

白 (eumhun 아뢸 백 (aroel baek))

1. hanja form? of 백 (“tell, inform”)

• 擘

From Proto-Ryukyuan *siro, from Proto-Japonic *siro.

Cognate with Japanese 白 (shiro, “white”).

白(しるー) (shirū)

1. white (color) くれー、白(しるー)やいびーん。Kurē, shirū yaibīn.This is white.

• Okinawan-English Wordbook (Mitsugu Sakihara)

The first attested meaning is “to report to a superior”, from which the generally honorific meaning developed, presumably via an intermediary circumlocutional construction which is not attested. The orthography is logogramic; see the Chinese entry’s definitions, specifically “to explain; to present; to state”.

白 (*SOLPO-)

1. to inform a superior; to report
2. an auxiliary verb or suffix honoring the direct or indirect object of the main verb [from c. 865.]
3. an auxiliary verb or suffix honoring the subject of the main verb Synonym: 賜 (*-si)

• Middle Korean: ᄉᆞᆲ다 (solpta, “to report to a superior”)
  • Early Modern Korean: ᄉᆞᆯ오다 (solwota, “to report to a superior”)
    • Korean: 사뢰다 (saroeda, “to report to a superior”)
  • Jeju: ᄉᆞᆯ루다 (sawlluda, “to tell, speak to a superior”)
• Middle Korean: -ᅀᆞᇦ- (-zoW-, verbal honorific suffix for the direct or indirect object) (see there for further descendants)
• ⇒ Middle Korean: ᄉᆞᆯ피다 (sòlphí-tá, “to look closely, to observe”) (with the causative suffix 히 (Yale: -hi))
  • Korean: 살피다 (salpida, “to look closely, to observe”)

• 황선엽 (Hwang Seon-yeop), 이전경 (Yi Jeon-gyeong), 하귀녀 (Ha Gwi-nyeo), 이용 (Yi Yong), 박진호 (Park Jin-ho), 김성주 (Kim Seong-ju), 장경준 (Jang Gyeong-jun), 서민욱 (Seo Min-uk), 이지영 (Yi Ji-yeong), 서형국 (Seo Hyeong-guk). (2009), 석독구결사전/釋讀口訣辭典 [Dictionary of interpretive gugyeol], Bakmunsa, →ISBN, pages 168—169
• 남풍현 (Nam Pung-hyeon) (2011), “古代韓國語의 謙讓法 助動詞 ‘白/ᄉᆞᆲ’과 ‘內/아’의 發達 [The development of the Old Korean humble auxiliary verbs ‘白 SOLP-‘ and ‘內 *A-‘]”, in Gugyeol Yeon’gu, volume 26, pages 131-166

白: Hán Việt readings: bạch (薄(bạc)陌(mạch)切(thiết))[1][2][3] 白: Nôm readings: bạch[1][2][3], bạc[1][3], trắng[1]

1. (only in compounds) chữ Hán form of bạch (“white”)
2. chữ Nôm form of bạc (“silver”)

白

1. Sawndip form of baeg (“to be tired; to gasp”)