adjective HSK 5
Traditional 蒼白
pale · pallid · wan · ashen
Meaning
苍白 describes a lack of color or vitality, most commonly referring to someone's complexion appearing pale or white due to illness, fear, shock, or exhaustion. It can also describe arguments, explanations, or writing that lack substance or persuasiveness.
Usage
When describing faces, 苍白 carries negative connotations of poor health or emotional distress. In figurative usage (like 苍白的解释 'pale explanation'), it means weak, feeble, or unconvincing. More literary than casual speech but common in written Chinese.
Examples
- 01他的脸色变得苍白，看起来很不舒服。, .His face turned pale and he looked very uncomfortable.
- 02这种苍白无力的解释根本无法说服大家。.This kind of feeble explanation simply cannot convince everyone.
Characters
Common collocations
- 脸色苍白pale complexion
- 苍白无力pale and weak; feeble
- 苍白的解释feeble explanation
- 显得苍白appear pale
Antonyms
Origin
苍 originally meant dark green or gray, while 白 means white. Together they create an intensified sense of unhealthy paleness or lack of color.