Definition

1. Noun:
   • The five primary colors: "Ngũ sắc" refers to the traditional set of five fundamental colors: blue (xanh), yellow (vàng), red (đỏ), white (trắng), and black (đen). This concept is rooted in East Asian philosophy and aesthetics.
   • Iridescence, a play of colors: By extension, "ngũ sắc" can describe something that is multicolored, shimmering with many colors, or iridescent, like the colors of a rainbow or an opal.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Lá cờ ngũ sắc tượng trưng cho sự hòa hợp. (The five-colored flag symbolizes harmony.)
  • Cánh chim bồ câu lấp lánh ngũ sắc dưới ánh mặt trời. (The dove's wings shimmered with iridescent colors under the sunlight.)

Advanced Usage

• "Lấp lánh ngũ sắc": to shimmer/glitter with iridescent colors.
  • Bong bóng xà phòng lấp lánh ngũ sắc. (The soap bubbles shimmer with iridescent colors.)
• "Cầu vồng ngũ sắc": a rainbow (literally "five-colored rainbow"), though rainbows have seven colors, this phrase poetically uses "ngũ sắc" to mean multicolored.
  • Sau cơn mưa, cầu vồng ngũ sắc xuất hiện. (After the rain, a multicolored rainbow appeared.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sặc sỡ (adj): Gaudy, brightly colored (often with many clashing colors). This is different from "ngũ sắc," which implies a harmonious or natural spectrum.
  • Bộ váy đó có màu sắc sặc sỡ. (That dress has gaudy colors.)
• Ngũ hành (n): The Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water), a related philosophical concept where each element is associated with one of the "ngũ sắc" colors.

Synonyms

• Nhiều màu: Many-colored, multicolored.
• Cầu vồng màu: Rainbow-colored (descriptive).

Related Phrases

• Đủ ngũ sắc: To have all five colors; to be fully multicolored.
  • Khu vườn đủ ngũ sắc với đủ loại hoa. (The garden has all the colors with various kinds of flowers.)

Related Idioms

• Ngũ sắc giao huy (a classical phrase): The five colors blending brilliantly; used to describe something extremely beautiful and colorful.
  • Bức tranh thêu với những sợi chỉ ngũ sắc giao huy. (The embroidered painting with threads of brilliantly blended colors.)

1. The five primary colours (blue, ye;;ow, red, white, black)