Red

紅

Red

Pronunciation:
hong ( Putonghua, 2nd tone ).
hung ( Cantonese 4th tone)

meaning: Red

紅日 ( hong re = red sun )
紅酒 ( hong jiu = red wine )
臉紅 ( lian hong = face red ) = blush.
紅樹林 ( hong shu lin = red tree grove ) = mangrove forests.
紅燈 (hong deng = red light ) red/stop/danger signal.

紅包 Cash gifts/bribes are ( hong bao = red packets).
紅白二事 ( hong bai er shi = red white two things/events) means weddings/brithdays and funerals.

紅 alos symbolizes socialist/communist China :
紅軍 ( hong jun = Red Army )
紅衛兵 ( hong wei bing = red guard soldier = Red Guards )
又紅又專 ( you hong you zhuan = also red also specialized ) means politically correct and professionally sound.

看破紅塵 ( kan po hong chen = see break/through red dust, 紅塵: world's vanities ) means disillusioned about life and desiring to become hermit/monk/nun.

by Raymond Mok 莫坤雄