huī

灰

HSK 7-9Character · Noun · Adjective

ash; dust; lime; gray; depressed

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

5 senses · 25 examples
1.

noun

ash; powdery residue after burning

Refers specifically to the solid residue left after organic matter is burned.

Lú炉
huī灰
lǐ里
hái还
shèng剩
xià下
yī一
diǎn点
wèi未
rán燃
jìn尽
de的
mù木
tàn炭
 。

There is still a bit of unburned charcoal left in the stove ash.

Xiāo消
fáng防
yuán员
pū扑
miè灭
dà大
huǒ火
hòu后
 ,
qīng清
lǐ理
le了
mǎn满
dì地
de的
huī灰
jìn烬
 。

After putting out the big fire, the firefighters cleaned up the ash all over the ground.

Show 3 more examples
Nóng农
mín民
yòng用
cǎo草
mù木
huī灰
gěi给
shū蔬
cài菜
shī施
féi肥
 。

Farmers use plant ash to fertilize vegetables.

Zào灶
tái台
shàng上
de的
lú炉
huī灰
xū需
yào要
měi每
tiān天
qīng清
lǐ理
 。

The stove ash on the kitchen stove needs to be cleaned every day.

Chái柴
huǒ火
rán燃
shāo烧
wán完
hòu后
zhǐ只
shèng剩
xià下
báo薄
báo薄
de的
yī一
céng层
huī灰
 。

After the firewood burned out, only a thin layer of ash remained.

2.

noun

dust; powdery substance

Can refer to general fine particulate matter or specific powdery items.

Zhuō桌
zi子
shàng上
luò落
le了
yī一
céng层
huī灰
 ,
gǎn赶
jǐn紧
yòng用
mā抹
bù布
cā擦
diào掉
 。

There is a layer of dust on the table, quickly wipe it off with a rag.

Chuāng窗
wài外
de的
shā沙
chén尘
bào暴
guò过
hòu后
 ,
jiā家
lǐ里
dào到
chù处
dōu都
shì是
yáng洋
huī灰
hé和
ní泥
tǔ土
 。

After the sandstorm outside the window, the house was full of dust and mud.

Show 3 more examples
Wǒ我
yòng用
jī鸡
máo毛
dǎn掸
zi子
bǎ把
shū书
jià架
shàng上
de的
huī灰
dǎn掸
gān干
jìng净
le了
 。

I used a feather duster to clean the dust off the bookshelf.

Miàn面
fěn粉
sā撒
le了
yī一
dì地
 ,
biàn变
chéng成
le了
hòu厚
hòu厚
de的
huī灰
 。

The flour spilled all over the floor, turning into a thick layer of powder.

Huàn换
jì季
de的
shí时
hou候
yào要
bǎ把
yī衣
guì柜
lǐ里
de的
yī衣
fu服
ná拿
chū出
lái来
dǎn掸
diào掉
huī灰
 。

When changing seasons, you should take the clothes out of the closet and dust them off.

3.

noun

lime

formal

Refers specifically to calcium lime used in construction and plastering.

Gōng工
rén人
zhèng正
zài在
gěi给
xīn新
qì砌
de的
qiáng墙
mǒ抹
huī灰
 。

The workers are plastering lime on the newly built wall.

Zhè这
dòng栋
lǎo老
fáng房
zi子
de的
huī灰
dǐng顶
yǐ已
jīng经
yǒu有
wǔ五
shí十
duō多
nián年
lì历
shǐ史
le了
 。

The lime roof of this old house has been around for more than 50 years.

Show 3 more examples
Zhuāng装
xiū修
shī师
fu傅
zhèng正
zài在
yòng用
huī灰
gāo膏
tián填
bǔ补
qiáng墙
miàn面
de的
fèng缝
xì隙
 。

The decorator is using lime paste to fill the gaps in the wall.

Nóng农
cūn村
de的
lǎo老
fáng房
zi子
cháng常
yòng用
shí石
huī灰
mǒ抹
qiáng墙
fáng防
cháo潮
 。

Old rural houses often use lime to plaster walls to prevent moisture.

Huī灰
qiáng墙
jīng经
guò过
fēng风
chuī吹
rì日
shài晒
biàn变
de得
yǒu有
xiē些
fā发
bái白
le了
 。

The lime-plastered wall has turned a bit white after being exposed to wind and sun.

4.

adjective

gray; grey

Describes colors between black and white, neutral in tone.

Tā她
jīn今
tiān天
chuān穿
le了
yī一
jiàn件
yín银
huī灰
sè色
de的
wài外
tào套
 。

She wore a silver gray coat today.

Zhè这
zhǒng种
huī灰
shǔ鼠
de的
pí皮
máo毛
fēi非
cháng常
róu柔
ruǎn软
bǎo保
nuǎn暖
 。

The fur of this gray squirrel is very soft and warm.

Show 3 more examples
Wǒ我
xīn新
mǎi买
de的
mào帽
zi子
shì是
chún纯
huī灰
sè色
de的
 ,
hěn很
bǎi百
dā搭
 。

My newly bought hat is pure gray, it goes with everything.

Bàng傍
wǎn晚
de的
tiān天
kōng空
biàn变
chéng成
le了
huī灰
lán蓝
sè色
 。

The evening sky turned gray-blue.

Zhè这
zhī只
huī灰
sè色
de的
māo猫
zhèng正
pā趴
zài在
chuāng窗
tái台
shàng上
shài晒
tài太
yáng阳
 。

This gray cat is lying on the windowsill sunbathing.

5.

adjective

depressed; disappointed; disheartened

Used to describe a low-spirited, discouraged emotional state.

Kǎo考
shì试
shī失
lì利
hòu后
 ,
tā他
xiǎn显
de得
xīn心
huī灰
yì意
lǎn懒
 ,
lián连
fàn饭
dōu都
bù不
xiǎng想
chī吃
 。

After failing the exam, he looked dejected and didn't even want to eat.

Lián连
xù续
de的
dǎ打
jī击
ràng让
tā他
biàn变
de得
wàn万
niàn念
jù俱
huī灰
 ,
duì对
shēng生
huó活
shī失
qù去
le了
xìn信
xīn心
 。

Continuous setbacks made him completely disheartened and lost faith in life.

Show 3 more examples
Chuàng创
yè业
shī失
bài败
hòu后
 ,
tā他
yī一
dù度
xīn心
huī灰
yì意
lěng冷
 ,
zài再
yě也
bù不
xiǎng想
cháng尝
shì试
le了
 。

After his business failed, he was once so depressed that he didn't want to try again.

Miàn面
duì对
duō多
cì次
jù拒
jué绝
 ,
tā她
bìng并
méi没
yǒu有
huī灰
xīn心
 ,
ér而
shì是
gèng更
jiā加
nǔ努
lì力
le了
 。

Facing multiple rejections, she didn't lose heart but worked harder instead.

Yì疫
qíng情
qī期
jiān间
 ,
hěn很
duō多
rén人
dōu都
gǎn感
dào到
yǒu有
xiē些
xīn心
huī灰
yì意
lǎn懒
 。

During the pandemic, many people felt a bit dejected and listless.