Learn Chinese Colors: Fun Ways to Teach Color Words to Kids

Learning colors (颜色, yán sè) is one of the most exciting early steps in your child’s Chinese journey! Color words are everywhere, in toys, food, clothes, and nature, making them perfect for everyday language learning with toddlers and preschoolers.

Here are some fun and simple ways to introduce basic Chinese color words and build vocabulary through real-life experiences and hands-on activities.

Start with Basic Chinese Color Words

Some common color words to begin with:

• 红色 (hóng sè) – red

• 橙色 (chéng sè) – orange

• 黄色 (huáng sè) – yellow

• 绿色 (lǜ sè) – green

• 蓝色 (lán sè) – blue

• 紫色 (zǐ sè) – purple

• 黑色 (hēi sè) – black

• 白色 (bái sè) – white

• 粉色 (fěn sè) – pink

• 棕色 (zōng sè) – brown

Use Color Posters for Visual Support

Visuals play a huge role in helping young children learn a new language!

Our Chinese Color Posters make it easy for kids to see, say, and memorize color words. You can display them in your classroom or at home so children are surrounded by Chinese every day.

For real-life connections, try our Color Word Posters with Real-Life Objects, featuring examples like 红色的苹果 (red apple), 黄色的香蕉 (yellow banana), and 绿色的树叶 (green leaf). These visuals help children link colors to familiar objects and naturally expand their Chinese vocabulary through daily exposure.

Try These Fun and Easy Color Activities

Kids learn best through hands-on activities! Here are some simple color activities you can do together at home or in the classroom:

1. Rainbow Craft 彩虹贴一贴
   Cut small pieces of colored paper and glue them to make a beautiful rainbow. Practice saying each color in Chinese as you build, while strengthening fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

2. Dot Marker Match 点点笔配对
   Use dot markers to match and name colors in Chinese — a fun way to reinforce vocabulary through art and play.

3. Color Sticker Sort 颜色贴纸配对
   Match colored dot stickers with Chinese color words. For example, place a green dot sticker on “绿 lǜ.” You can make it extra fun by adding the stickers to some doodles with Chinese characters, like fish, apples, or spiders!

4. Word Matching Puzzles 颜色中英文配对
   Create Chinese-English word puzzles to help kids make connections between the two languages and reinforce bilingual literacy.

5. Painting Fun 自由绘画

   Use watercolors or washable paints to explore colors freely. Encourage kids to describe their artwork in Chinese as they paint!

You can also use our Chinese Color Vocabulary Printables to reinforce word recognition and writing. Just print, learn, and have fun!

All resources are available in simplified and traditional Chinese.

Celebrate Colors in Every Season

Each season offers a wonderful opportunity to explore colors in nature! From the blue butterflies in spring and pink ice cream in summer to the red apples in fall and sparkling white snow in winter, there’s always something new for little Chinese learners to notice and talk about.

Our Colors in Four Seasons resources help children learn Chinese color words and seasonal vocabulary through meaningful, hands-on activities. Kids can read Chinese phrases alongside seasonal images, then use coloring tools to bring their booklets and posters to life. These engaging printables make it easy to blend nature and language learning!

Learning colors in Chinese is more than just memorizing words. It’s about helping kids see the world with curiosity and creativity! Whether they’re painting, sorting, or exploring the colors, every activity is a chance to build vocabulary, confidence, and joy in learning Chinese.