虹

虹 U+8679, 虹 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8679 ← 虸 [U+8678] CJK Unified Ideographs 虺 → [U+867A]

Translingual

Han character

A rainbow.

虹 (Kangxi radical 142, 虫+3, 9 strokes, cangjie input 中戈一 (LIM), four-corner 5111₀, composition ⿰虫工)

Derived characters

• 渱, 𬁅, 𫕩, 𬀒

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 1076, character 40
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 32830
• Dae Jaweon: page 1545, character 23
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 4, page 2834, character 8
• Unihan data for U+8679

Chinese

simp. and trad.		虹
alternative forms		𧈫 𧈬 𧌫 𧍺 𧊋 𧈫 𧈬 𧌫 𧍺 𧊋 蝎

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 虹
Shang	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
Oracle bone script	Small seal script

Characters in the same phonetic series (工) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
缸	*kroːŋ, *ɡroːŋ
篢	*kluːmʔ, *koːŋ
贑	*kluːmʔ
涳	*ŋr'oːŋ, *kʰroːŋ, *kʰoːŋ
江	*kroːŋ
肛	*kroːŋ, *qʰroːŋ
扛	*kroːŋ
杠	*kroːŋ
豇	*kroːŋ
茳	*kroːŋ
釭	*kroːŋ, *koːŋ, *kuːŋ
矼	*kroːŋ
玒	*kroːŋ, *koːŋ
虹	*kroːŋs, *koːŋs, *ɡoːŋ
腔	*kʰroːŋ
崆	*kʰroːŋ, *kʰoːŋ
羫	*kʰroːŋ
控	*kʰroːŋ, *kʰoːŋs
椌	*kʰroːŋ, *kʰoːŋ
悾	*kʰroːŋ, *kʰoːŋ, *kʰoːŋs
跫	*kʰroːŋ, *kʰoŋ, *ɡoŋ
啌	*qʰroːŋ
谾	*qʰroːŋ, *qʰoːŋ
舡	*qʰroːŋ
缻	*ɡroːŋ
項	*ɡroːŋʔ
屸	*ɡ·roːŋ
功	*koːŋ
工	*koːŋ
疘	*koːŋ
魟	*koːŋ, *qʰoːŋ, *ɡoːŋ
攻	*koːŋ, *kuːŋ
愩	*koːŋ
碽	*koːŋ
貢	*koːŋs
羾	*koːŋs
空	*kʰoːŋ, *kʰoːŋs
箜	*kʰoːŋ
硿	*kʰoːŋ
埪	*kʰoːŋ
鵼	*kʰoːŋ
倥	*kʰoːŋ, *kʰoːŋʔ, *kʰoːŋs
鞚	*kʰoːŋs
叿	*qʰoːŋ
嗊	*qʰoːŋʔ
訌	*ɡoːŋ
紅	*ɡoːŋ
仜	*ɡoːŋ
葒	*ɡoːŋ
渱	*ɡoːŋ
鴻	*ɡoːŋ, *ɡoːŋʔ
汞	*ɡoːŋʔ
澒	*ɡoːŋʔ
鞏	*koŋʔ
巩	*koŋʔ
銎	*kʰoŋ, *qʰoŋ
恐	*kʰoŋʔ, *kʰoŋs
蛩	*ɡoŋ
筇	*ɡoŋ
桏	*ɡoŋ
邛	*ɡoŋ

Originally pictographic (象形) in the oracle bone script. The ancient Chinese regarded the rainbow as a two-headed creature.

In the seal script, it has become a phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kroːŋs, *koːŋs, *ɡoːŋ) : semantic 虫 (“insect; creature”) + phonetic 工 (OC *koːŋ).

Etymology

Probably non-Sino-Tibetan; compare Proto-Mien *kluŋᴬ (“rainbow”), Thai รุ้ง (rúng, “rainbow”), Zhuang duzdoengz (“rainbow”), saidoengz (“rainbow”) (Schuessler, 2007).

Benedict (1986) and Carr (1990) relate this to 龍 (OC *b·roŋ, *mroːŋ, “dragon”) and 紅 (OC *ɡoːŋ, “red”).

Pronunciation 1

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): hóng, jiàng, gàng (hong², jiang⁴, gang⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄏㄨㄥˊ, ㄐㄧㄤˋ, ㄍㄤˋ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): gang⁴ / hong²

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): гон (gon, III)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): hung⁴ / gong³

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): huung³ / kuung³

• Gan (Wiktionary): gong⁴ / fung⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): fùng

  (Hailu, HRS): kiung^˖ / fung

  (Meixian, Guangdong): fung²

• Jin (Wiktionary): jion² / hung¹
• Northern Min (KCR): gô̤ng / ǒng
• Eastern Min (BUC): kê̤ṳng / hùng
• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): korng⁵ / horng²
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): khēng / khěng / hông

  (Teochew, Peng'im): kêng⁶ / hong⁵

  (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): kiang⁶ / hong⁵

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁶ghon
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): gan⁴ / hong²

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese, literary, standard in Mainland and Taiwan)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: hóng
    • Zhuyin: ㄏㄨㄥˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: hóng
    • Wade–Giles: hung²
    • Yale: húng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: horng
    • Palladius: хун (xun)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /xʊŋ³⁵/
      
  • (Standard Chinese, colloquial, standard in Mainland)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: jiàng
    • Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄤˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jiàng
    • Wade–Giles: chiang⁴
    • Yale: jyàng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jianq
    • Palladius: цзян (czjan)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/
      
  • (Beijing dialect)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: gàng
    • Zhuyin: ㄍㄤˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: gàng
    • Wade–Giles: kang⁴
    • Yale: gàng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: ganq
    • Palladius: ган (gan)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kɑŋ⁵¹/

Note: jiàng, gàng - only used as a standalone word.

• • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: gang⁴ / hong²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: gang / xung
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kaŋ²¹³/, /xoŋ²¹/

Note:

• gang4 - vernacular;
• hong2 - literary.

• (Dungan)
  • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: гон (gon, III)
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): //

  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: hung⁴ / gong³
    • Yale: hùhng / gong
    • Cantonese Pinyin: hung⁴ / gong³
    • Guangdong Romanization: hung⁴ / gong³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hʊŋ²¹/, /kɔːŋ³³/

Note: gong3 - used in 天虹 (tin¹ gong³).

• • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: huung³ / kuung³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hɵŋ²²/, /kʰɵŋ²²/

Note: kuung3 - used in 水虹 (sui² kuung³).

• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: gong⁴ / fung⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kɔŋ³⁵/, /fuŋ³⁵/

Note:

• gong4 - vernacular;
• fung4 - literary.

• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: fùng
    • Hakka Romanization System: fung^ˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: fung²
    • Sinological IPA: /fuŋ¹¹/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: kiung^˖ / fung
    • Sinological IPA: /kʰiuŋ³³/, /fuŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: fung²
    • Sinological IPA: /fʊŋ¹¹/

Note:

• Hailu:
  • kiung˖ - vernacular;
  • fung - literary.

• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: jion² / hung¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡ɕiɒ̃⁵³/, /xũŋ¹¹/

Note:

• jion2 - vernacular;
• hung1 - literary.

• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: gô̤ng / ǒng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kɔŋ³³/, /ɔŋ²¹/

Note:

• gô̤ng - vernacular;
• ǒng - literary.

• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: kê̤ṳng / hùng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kʰøyŋ²⁴²/, /huŋ⁵³/

Note:

• kê̤ṳng - vernacular;
• hùng - literary.

• Puxian Min
  • (Putian, Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: korng⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kʰɒŋ²¹/
  • (Putian, Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: horng²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hɒŋ¹³/

Note:

• korng5 - vernacular;
• horng2 - literary.

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung, Hsinchu, Sanxia, Yilan, Kinmen, Magong, Singapore)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: khēng
    • Tâi-lô: khīng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: qeng
    • IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Yilan): /kʰiɪŋ³³/
    • IPA (Singapore): /kʰeŋ²²/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kinmen): /kʰiɪŋ²²/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Lukang)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: khěng
    • Tâi-lô: khǐng
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /kʰiɪŋ²²/
    • IPA (Jinjiang, Lukang): /kʰiɪŋ³³/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hông
    • Tâi-lô: hông
    • Phofsit Daibuun: hoong
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /hɔŋ²³/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /hɔŋ¹³/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei): /hɔŋ²⁴/

Note:

• khēng/khěng - vernacular;
• hông - literary.

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: kêng⁶ / hong⁵
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: khĕng / hông
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kʰeŋ³⁵/, /hoŋ⁵⁵/

Note:

• kêng6 - vernacular;
• hong5 - literary.

• (Leizhou)
  • Leizhou Pinyin: kiang⁶ / hong⁵
  • Sinological IPA: /kʰiaŋ³³/, /hɔŋ²²/

Note:

• kiang6 - vernacular;
• hong5 - literary.

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁶ghon
    • MiniDict: ghon^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³hhon
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ɦoŋ²³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: gan⁴ / hong²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /kan⁴⁵/, /xʊŋ¹³/
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /kan⁴⁵/, /xən¹³/

Note:

• gan4 - vernacular;
• hong2 - literary.

---

• Middle Chinese: huwng, kaewngH

Rime
Character	虹	虹
Reading #	1/3	3/3
Initial (聲)	匣 (33)	見 (28)
Final (韻)	東 (1)	江 (9)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open	Open
Division (等)	I	II
Fanqie	戸公切	古巷切
Baxter	huwng	kaewngH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ɦuŋ/	/kˠʌŋH/
Pan Wuyun	/ɦuŋ/	/kᵚɔŋH/
Shao Rongfen	/ɣuŋ/	/kɔŋH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɦəwŋ/	/kaɨwŋH/
Li Rong	/ɣuŋ/	/kɔŋH/
Wang Li	/ɣuŋ/	/kɔŋH/
Bernard Karlgren	/ɣuŋ/	/kɔŋH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	hóng	jiàng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	hung4	gong3

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*m-kˤoŋ/, /*kˤroŋ-s/

  (Zhengzhang): /*ɡoːŋ/, /*kroːŋs/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	虹	虹
Reading #	1/2	2/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	hóng	jiàng
Middle Chinese	‹ huwng ›	‹ kæwngH ›
Old Chinese	/*m-kˁoŋ/	/*kˁroŋ-s/
English	rainbow	rainbow
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	虹	虹
Reading #	3/3	1/3
No.	4056	4004
Phonetic component	工	工
Rime group	東	東
Rime subdivision	0	0
Corresponding MC rime	洪	絳
Old Chinese	/*ɡoːŋ/	/*kroːŋs/

Definitions

虹

1. rainbow; primary rainbow (Classifier: 條／条 m c; 道 m)

   彩虹  ―  cǎihóng  ―  rainbow

   天上出虹了。  ―  Tiānshàng chū jiàng le.  ―  There's a rainbow in the sky.

2. (literary, figurative) bridge

Synonyms

• (rainbow):

Dialectal synonyms of 虹 (“rainbow”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		虹, 螮蝀, 雩, 隮
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		彩虹, 虹
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	虹
	Taiwan	彩虹
	Langfang	虹
	Chengde	虹
	Ulanhot	七彩虹
	Tongliao	彩虹
	Chifeng	虹, 大虹
	Hulunbuir (Hailar)	虹, 彩虹
	Heihe	虹, 彩虹
	Qiqihar	虹
	Harbin	虹, 紅虹
	Wuchang (Yingchengzi)	虹
	Jiamusi	虹
	Baicheng	虹
	Changchun	虹
	Tonghua	虹
	Shenyang	虹, 彩虹
	Jinzhou	虹, 彩虹
	Singapore	彩虹
	Olginsky (Mikhaylovka)	虹
Jilu Mandarin	Tianjin	虹
	Tangshan	虹, 彩虹
	Cangzhou	虹
	Xianxian (Xiaoying)	彩虹, 虹
	Baoding	虹, 彩虹
	Shijiazhuang	虹
	Lijin	虹
	Rizhao	虹
	Jinan	虹
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Dalian	虹
	Dandong	虹
	Yantai	虹
	Yantai (Muping)	虹
	Qingdao	虹
	Zhucheng	虹
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	虹
	Lingbao	虹
	Jining	虹
	Daming	虹
	Wanrong	虹
	Linfen	虹
	Shangqiu	虹, 彩虹
	Yuanyang	虹
	Zhengzhou	虹
	Kaifeng	虹
	Xinyang	虹
	Ankang	虹
	Ankang (Xianhe, Hanbin)	虹
	Baihe	虹
	Baihe (Maoping)	虹
	Xi'an	虹, 彩虹
	Dingbian	彩虹
	Baoji	虹
	Tongxin	虹
	Yanchi	虹
	Guyuan	虹
	Longde	虹
	Jingyuan	虹
	Tianshui	虹
	Xining	虹
	Yanqi	虹
	Xuzhou	虹
	Fuyang	虹
	Qimen (Anling Junhua)	虹
	Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	虹
	Masanchin (Shaanxi Dungan)	虹
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	虹, 彩虹
	Wuzhong	虹
	Zhongwei	虹
	Bayanhot	彩虹, 虹
	Lanzhou	虹
	Dunhuang	虹
	Hami	虹
	Ürümqi	虹
	Ürümqi (Xigou)	彩虹
	Ürümqi (Changshanzi)	虹
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	虹, 天橋, 彩虹, 天龍
	Chengdu (Xindu)	虹
	Nanchong	虹, 彩虹
	Dazhou	虹
	Hanyuan	虹
	Xichang	虹
	Zigong	彩虹
	Muli	虹
	Chongqing	虹, 彩虹
	Wuhan	虹
	Yichang	虹, 彩虹
	Xiangyang	虹, 彩虹
	Tianmen	虹, 曬虹
	Guiyang	虹
	Zunyi	虹
	Bijie	虹
	Liping	虹, 虹濟水
	Zhaotong	虹
	Dali	虹
	Kunming	虹, 彩虹
	Mengzi	虹, 彩虹
	Guilin	虹, 彩虹
	Guilin (Lingui)	虹
	Pingle	龍虹, 彩虹
	Liuzhou	虹, 彩虹
	Liuzhou (Luorong)	虹
	Luzhai	彩虹
	Nanning (Wuming)	彩虹
	Hechi (Yizhou)	龍虹
	Luocheng (Dongmen)	龍虹 dated, 彩虹
	Tianlin (Langping)	虹
	Tianlin (Pingtang)	虹
	Xiangzhou (Nalu)	虹槓東
	Jishou	虹, 螞蟥幹
	Changde	虹, 馬雲
	Xiangtan (Jiangnan Industries Group koine)	彩虹
	Shiquan	虹
	Ziyang	虹
	Hanzhong	虹
	Kokang	虹吃水, 龍虹
	Dagudi (Maliba)	彩虹
	Reshuitang (Longling)	老虹
	Mae Salong (Lancang)	老虹, 彩虹
	Mae Sai (Tengchong)	老虹
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	虹
	Yangzhou	虹
	Lianyungang	虹
	Lianshui	虹
	Nantong	鱟, 虹
	Anqing	虹
	Wuhu	虹
	Hefei	虹
	Chuzhou	虹
	Huanggang	虹
	Hong'an	虹
Mandarin	Yongning (Najiahu)	虹
	Jiangshan (Nianbadu)	虹
	Kaihua (Huabu)	虹
	Yushan (Huaiyu)	虹
Cantonese	Guangzhou	虹, 天虹, 龍拱
	Hong Kong	彩虹, 天虹
	Hong Kong (San Tin Weitou)	天弓
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)	虹
	Hong Kong (Ting Kok)	天弓
	Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)	天虹
	Macau	虹
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	虹
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	龍
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	龍虹
	Foshan	鑊耳龍
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	龍
	Foshan (Shunde)	拱篷
	Foshan (Sanshui)	鑊耳龍
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	龍
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	虹拱
	Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou)	播虹
	Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka)	龍孔
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	龍孔
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	叫虹
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	鑊耳, 水拱
	Taishan	鑊耳, 水虹, 水拱
	Taishan (Guanghai)	龍生水, 鑊耳虹, 彩虹
	Kaiping (Chikan)	鑊耳龍, 水拱
	Enping (Niujiang)	鑊耳龍
	Heshan (Yayao)	虹
	Dongguan	虹
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	虹
	Shenzhen (Dapeng)	天弓
	Qingyuan	虹
	Fogang	虹, 龍
	Yingde (Hanguang)	天弓
	Yangshan	虹
	Lianshan (Butian)	汗龍
	Lianzhou (Qingshui Sihui)	天虹
	Shaoguan	虹
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	虹
	Renhua	天虹
	Lechang	天虹
	Zhaoqing (Gaoyao)	龍
	Sihui	龍
	Guangning	龍
	Deqing	龍
	Huaiji	虹
	Fengkai (Nanfeng)	旱龍
	Yunfu	龍
	Xinxing	龍
	Yunan (Pingtai)	龍
	Yangjiang	破篷
	Xinyi	湴更
	Lianjiang	虹
	Nanning	虹, 雙虹
	Nanning (Tanka)	彩虹
	Wuzhou	彩虹
	Wuzhou (Longxu)	虹
	Yulin	龐虹
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	天虹, 虹
	Hepu (Shatian)	拱
	Guiping	虹
	Guiping (Jintian)	虹
	Guiping (Jiangkou)	虹, 彩虹
	Guiping (Madong)	龐虹
	Pingnan (Danzhu)	龍
	Mengshan (Xihe)	龍
Guigang (Nanjiang)	虹
Beiliu	湴界, 彩虹
Beiliu (Tangliao)	虹
Baise	虹, 雙虹
Bobai	虹
Lingshan	龐虹
Pubei	龐虹
Qinzhou	天虹, 虹, 彩虹
Qinzhou (Xiaodong)	龐虹
Qinzhou (Changtan)	龐虹
Qinzhou (Nasi)	龐虹
Qinzhou (Xiniujiao)	虹
Beihai	天虹, 天橋
Beihai (Nankang)	拱
Beihai (Yingpan)	拱
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)	拱
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà)	篷拱
Ningming	虹
Hezhou (Pumen, Babu)	虹
Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)	天弓
Chongzuo (Laituan)	天虹
Fusui (Qujiu)	蛤筒食水
Lingchuan (Yangjia)	龍虹
Pingle (Majia)	彩虹
Pingle (Shuishan)	虹
Danzhou	天虹
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	彩虹, 彩龍
Sarikei (Xinhui)	龍拱
Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	彩虹
Móng Cái	天弓
Yangon (Taishan)	虹
Mandalay (Taishan)	鑊耳虹
Bangkok (Guangfu)	虹
Gan	Nanchang	虹
	Pengze	虹
	Yanshan	虹
	Lichuan	天虹, 天吊, 虹
	Pingxiang	虹
	Guixi	虹
Hakka	Meixian	天弓
	Xingning	天弓
	Fengshun (Liuhuang)	彩虹, 虹仔
	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	彩虹, 青里
	Huidong (Daling)	天弓
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	天弓
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	天弓
	Zengcheng (Zhengguo)	天弓
	Zhongshan (Wuguishan)	天弓食水
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	虹
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	天弓
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	天弓
	Wuhua (Changbu)	天弓
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	天弓
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	虹
	Zijin	天弓
	Nanxiong (Zhuji)	虹
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	天弓
	Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)	龍
	Liannan	天虹
	Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua)	虹
	Jiexi	弓
	Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)	虹
	Nanjing (Meilin)	彩虹
	Nanjing (Tianluokeng, Shuyang)	虹
	Changting	虹
	Wuping	天弓
	Wuping (Yanqian)	天弓
	Wuping (Pingyu)	天弓
	Liancheng	虹
	Liancheng (Peitian)	天門神
	Ninghua	虹
	Yudu	虹
	Ningdu	虹
	Ruijin	虹
	Shicheng	虹
	Shangyou (Shexi)	虹
	Tonggu (Sandu)	天虹
	Ganzhou (Panlong)	虹
	Dayu	虹
	Taoyuan	天弓
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	天弓, 虹
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	天弓
	Pingtung (Wuluo, Ligang; S. Sixian)	天弓
	Kaohsiung (Meinong; S. Sixian)	天弓
	Kaohsiung (Shanlin; S. Sixian)	天弓
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	虹
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	天弓
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	虹
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	虹
	Hong Kong	天弓
	Mengshan (Xihe)	虹
	Luchuan	天公虹
	Luchuan (Daqiao)	天公降水
	Bobai (Shahe)	天弓
	Bobai (Longtan)	天弓
	Bobai (Lingping)	天弓
	Beiliu (Tang'an)	天公食水
	Beiliu (Gonghe, Xilang)	天弓
	Xingye (Gaofeng)	天弓
	Mashan (Pianlian)	天公食水
	Guilin (Xiaojiang, Lingui)	虹
	Lipu (Shuangduitun)	彩虹
	Lipu (Dashigu)	彩虹, 月龍
Pingle (Tong'an)	彩龍
Guidong	天虹
Chengdu (Longtan)	天弓
Chengdu (Shiling)	天弓
Chengdu (Longwang)	天弓
Chengdu (Shibantan)	天弓
Chengdu (Xindu Subdistrict)	天弓, 虹
Sabah (Longchuan)	天弓
Senai (Huiyang)	天弓, 彩虹
Sungai Tapang, Batu Kawa (Hepo)	弓
Singkawang	天弓
Pontianak (Meixian)	天弓
Mempawah (Meixian)	天弓
Medan (Metal - Meixian)	彩虹
Singapore (Meixian)	天弓
Singapore (Dabu)	彩虹
Bangkok (Meixian)	彩虹, 天弓
Bangkok (Fengshun)	弓
Bangkok (Jiexi)	弓
Huizhou	Jixi	日頭紅虹, 虹
	Shexian	虹, 彩虹
	Shexian (Xianggao)	虹
	Shexian (Daguyun)	虹
	Huangshan (Tunxi)	虹
	Yixian	虹
	Qimen	虹
	Qimen (Anling Minhua)	虹
	Wuyuan	虹
	Fuliang	虹
	Dexing	彩虹
	Shitai (Xianyu)	虹
Jin	Taiyuan	虹
	Pingyao	虹
	Yangyuan	虹
	Datong	虹
	Datong (Xicetian, Yunzhou)	虹
	Xinzhou	虹
	Lüliang (Lishi)	虹
	Changzhi	虹
	Taibus (Baochang)	虹
	Linhe	虹
	Jining	虹
	Hohhot	虹
	Baotou	虹
	Dongsheng	虹
	Haibowan	虹
	Erenhot	虹
	Pingshan	虹
	Zhangjiakou	虹
	Handan	虹
	Linzhou	虹
	Suide	虹, 水罐
	Zizhou	水罐
	Mizhi	虹
	Jiaxian	虹
	Wubu	水罐子
	Shenmu	虹
	Fugu	罐
	Yulin	虹
	Yulin (Hengshan)	虹
	Jingbian	虹
	Yan'an	虹
	Yan'an (Ansai)	虹
	Ganquan	虹
	Zhidan	虹
	Wuqi	虹
	Qingjian	虹
	Zichang	虹
	Yanchuan	虹
	Yanchang	吊水罐罐
Jiuxing Yumin	Jiande	鱟
	Jinhua	鱟
	Lanxi	鱟
	Tunxi	虹
Northern Min	Jian'ou	虹
	Jian'ou (Dikou)	虹
	Zhenghe (Zhenqian)	虹
	Pucheng (Shibei)	虹, 攔溪仔 dated
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	虹
	Fuqing	虹
	Gutian	虹
	Shouning	虹
	Matsu	虹
Southern Min	Xiamen	虹
	Quanzhou	虹
	Jinjiang	虹
	Yongchun	虹
	Zhangzhou	虹
	Hua'an	虹
	Dongshan	虹
	Taipei	虹
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	虹
	Kaohsiung	虹
	Yilan	虹
	Changhua (Lukang)	虹
	Taichung	虹
	Taichung (Wuqi)	虹
	Tainan	虹
	Taitung	虹
	Hsinchu	虹
	Kinmen	虹
	Penghu (Magong)	虹
	Penang (Hokkien)	虹
	Singapore (Hokkien)	虹
	Manila (Hokkien)	彩虹
	Zhangping (Yongfu)	天虹
	Pingnan (Shangdu)	虹
	Pingnan (Pingtian)	虹
	Pingnan (Sijie)	虹
	Guiping (Xiaowen)	虹, 彩虹
	Guiping (Dongsheng)	發紅雲
	Guilin (Biyange)	龍公
	Pingle (Zhoutang)	龍, 天橋
	Lechang (Tatou)	天虹
	Renhua (Changshabei)	天虹
	Yingde (Yuzui)	虹
	Yunan (Liantan)	龍, 虹
	Yuhuan (Kanmen)	虹
	Chaozhou	虹
	Shantou	虹
	Shantou (Chenghai)	虹
	Shantou (Chaoyang)	虹, 彩虹
	Jieyang	虹
	Haifeng	虹
	Bangkok (Teochew)	虹
	Chiang Mai (Teochew)	彩虹
	Hat Yai (Teochew)	虹
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	虹
	Pontianak (Teochew)	虹
	Leizhou	虹
	Wenchang	虹
	Haikou	虹
	Wanning	虹
Puxian Min	Putian	虹
	Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang)	虹
	Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang)	虹
	Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu)	虹
	Xianyou	虹
	Xianyou (Fengting)	虹
	Xianyou (Youyang)	虹
	Fuding (Aoyao)	虹
Central Min	Yong'an	虹
	Sanming (Sanyuan)	虹
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)	播虹
	Zhongshan (Sanxiang)	跨篷
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	虹
	Nanning (Shajing)	虹
	Nanning (Gejiayuan)	虹
	Nanning (Zhegulu)	虹, 拱橋
	Nanning (Silian)	虹, 天虹
	Nanning (Xiuxiang)	虹
	Nanning (Sucun)	虹, 幹筒
	Binyang	虹, 龍虹
	Binyang (Xinqiao)	虹
	Hengzhou (Baihe)	龐虹
	Liucheng (Yangmei)	虹
	Luocheng (Niubi)	長虹
Northern Pinghua	Guilin (Dahe)	虹
	Guilin (Chaoyang)	虹
	Guilin (Dongbianzhou)	虹
	Guilin (Zhuyuan)	虹
	Guilin (Dabu)	雨界
	Guilin (Yangjia)	龍
	Guilin (Qianjing)	雨虹
	Guilin (Wutong, Lingui)	江東龍, 龍虹
	Guilin (Huangsha, Lingui)	龍虹
	Guilin (Liangjiang, Lingui)	天龍, 彩圈
	Guilin (Liutang, Lingui)	虹
	Lingchuan (Sanjie)	虹
	Lingchuan (Gaoqiao)	虹
	Lingchuan (Gudong)	龍虹
	Lingchuan (Tanxia)	虹
	Lingchuan (Shuangzhou)	彩虹, 虹
	Lingchuan (Gongping)	龍虹
	Guanyang (Guanyinge)	龍虹
	Pingle (Zhangjia)	虹
	Yangshuo (Putao)	雨虹
Shehua	Ningde	蛟龍
	Fu'an	蛟龍
	Fuding	蛟龍
	Zhouning	蛟龍
	Xiapu	蛟龍
	Shouning	虹
	Gutian	蛟龍
	Luoyuan	蛟龍
	Sanming	蛟龍
	Shunchang	蛟龍
	Hua'an	蛟龍
	Guixi (Zhangping)	蛟龍
	Yanshan (Taiyuan)	蛟龍
	Cangnan	蛟龍
	Jingning (Hexi)	蛟龍
	Lishui	蛟龍
	Longyou	蛟龍
	Hangzhou (Lin'an)	蛟龍
	Chaozhou	蛟龍
	Fengshun	蛟龍
Waxiang	Yuanling (Shaojiwan)	螞蟥雲
Wu	Shanghai	虹, 彩虹, 鱟 dated
	Shanghai (Chongming)	鱟
	Suzhou	鱟, 彩虹, 虹
	Wuxi	彩虹, 虹, 鱟
	Danyang	虹
	Hangzhou	鱟, 彩虹
	Hangzhou (Fuyang)	鱟
	Ningbo	鱟, 虹
	Linhai	鱟
	Yuhuan (Damaiyu)	鱟
	Yuhuan (Chumen)	鱟
	Wenzhou	鱟
	Songyang (Gushi)	鱟
	Longquan	鱟
	Jinhua	鱟, 彩虹
	Jinhua (Tangxi)	熯
Xiang	Changsha	虹
	Xiangtan	虹
	Xiangtan County (Cha'ensi)	虹
	Xiangxiang	虹
	Xiangxiang (Meiqiao)	彩虹
	Loudi	虹
	Shuangfeng	虹
	Hengyang	虹
	Hengshan	虹, 雲虹
	Hengshan (Baiguo)	斗雨
	Quanzhou	彩虹
	Guanyang (Wenshi)	虹
	Qinglong (Changliu Laba Miao)	虹
Xiangnan Tuhua	Jiangyong	蟲
	Dong'an	虹, 螃蟹夾草
Yuebei Tuhua	Shaoguan (Dacun, Baitu, Qujiang)	拱橋
	Shaoguan (Xiangyang, Xihe, Wujiang)	天弓
	Shaoguan (Shibei, Xinshao, Zhenjiang)	天弓
	Renhua (Zhoutian)	天虹
	Renhua (Shitang)	天狗
	Ruyuan (Songwei, Guitou)	天拱
	Lechang (Changlai)	天虹
	Lechang (Beixiang)	天虹
	Lechang (Huangpu)	天虹
	Lechang (Guitang, Pingshi)	天虹, 天橋
	Lechang (Sanxi)	虹

See also

• 霓 (ní)

Compounds

• 丹虹
• 副虹
• 垂虹
• 垂虹亭
• 垂虹橋／垂虹桥
• 天虹 (tiānhóng)
• 宛虹
• 幡虹
• 彩虹 (cǎihóng)
• 攄虹／摅虹
• 文虹
• 斷虹／断虹
• 日虹
• 星虹
• 晴虹
• 月虹 (yuèhóng)
• 梁虹
• 橋虹／桥虹
• 殘虹／残虹
• 氣勢如虹／气势如虹 (qìshìrúhóng)
• 氣吐虹霓／气吐虹霓
• 氣吞虹蜺／气吞虹蜺
• 氣貫長虹／气贯长虹
• 煙虹／烟虹
• 玉泉垂虹
• 玉虹
• 白虹
• 白虹貫日／白虹贯日
• 直虹
• 荊虹／荆虹
• 虹丹
• 虹伸
• 虹光
• 虹勢／虹势
• 虹吸作用
• 虹吸現象／虹吸现象
• 虹吸管
• 虹女
• 虹帶／虹带
• 虹彩 (hóngcǎi)
• 虹彩膜
• 虹旃
• 虹旆
• 虹旌
• 虹旍
• 虹旗
• 虹星
• 虹映
• 虹梁
• 虹棧／虹栈
• 虹樓／虹楼
• 虹橋／虹桥 (hóngqiáo)
• 虹橋板／虹桥板
• 虹氣／虹气
• 虹泉
• 虹沴
• 虹洞
• 虹燭錠／虹烛锭
• 虹玉
• 虹申
• 虹絲／虹丝
• 虹腰
• 虹膜 (hóngmó)
• 虹舸
• 虹草
• 虹蝀／虹𬟽
• 虹蜺 (hóngní)
• 虹蜺閣／虹蜺阁
• 虹裳
• 虹輝／虹辉
• 虹采
• 虹陛
• 虹雨
• 虹霓 (hóngní)
• 虹飲／虹饮
• 虹鱒／虹鳟 (hóngzūn)
• 蛇虹
• 蝦虹／虾虹
• 謀虹／谋虹
• 貫虹／贯虹
• 跨虹
• 長虹／长虹 (chánghóng)
• 長虹貫日／长虹贯日
• 陰虹／阴虹
• 隱虹／隐虹
• 雄虹
• 雌虹
• 雰虹／氛虹
• 電虹／电虹
• 霓虹 (níhóng)
• 霓虹燈／霓虹灯 (níhóngdēng)
• 霞虹
• 青虹
• 風虹／风虹
• 飲虹／饮虹
• 鬐虹

 

References

• 莆田市政协文化文史和学习委员会 [Culture, History and Learning Committee of Putian CPPCC], editor (2021), “虹”, in 莆仙方言大词典 (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), Xiamen University Press, →ISBN, page 331.
• 莆田市荔城区档案馆 [Putian City Licheng District Archives], editor (2022), “虹”, in 莆仙方言文读字汇 (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), page 89.

Pronunciation 2

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): hòng (hong⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄏㄨㄥˋ

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: hòng
    • Zhuyin: ㄏㄨㄥˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: hòng
    • Wade–Giles: hung⁴
    • Yale: hùng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: honq
    • Palladius: хун (xun)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /xʊŋ⁵¹/

Definitions

虹

1. ^† to fester
2. Only used in 虹洞.

Pronunciation 3

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): gòng (gong⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄍㄨㄥˋ

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: gòng
    • Zhuyin: ㄍㄨㄥˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: gòng
    • Wade–Giles: kung⁴
    • Yale: gùng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: gonq
    • Palladius: гун (gun)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kʊŋ⁵¹/

---

• Middle Chinese: kuwngH

Rime
Character	虹
Reading #	2/3
Initial (聲)	見 (28)
Final (韻)	東 (1)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	古送切
Baxter	kuwngH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/kuŋH/
Pan Wuyun	/kuŋH/
Shao Rongfen	/kuŋH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/kəwŋH/
Li Rong	/kuŋH/
Wang Li	/kuŋH/
Bernard Karlgren	/kuŋH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	gòng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	gung3

• Old Chinese

  (Zhengzhang): /*koːŋs/

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	虹
Reading #	2/3
No.	4032
Phonetic component	工
Rime group	東
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	貢
Old Chinese	/*koːŋs/
Notes	原注今音絳

Definitions

虹

1. (historical) A county in modern Anhui, China

Japanese

Kanji

虹

(Jōyō kanji)

虹 (niji): a rainbow.

Readings

• Go-on: ぐ (gu)
• Kan-on: こう (kō)
• Kun: にじ (niji, 虹, Jōyō)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
虹
にじ Grade: S
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
霓

⟨nizi⟩ → /niʑi/

From Old Japanese 虹 (nizi). First attested in the Kojiki of 712 CE.

Also attested as man’yōgana form 爾自 in the 金光明最勝王経音義 (Konkōmyō Saishōō-kyō Ongi) of 1079. May be a shift from earlier ぬじ (nuji) or のじ (noji) readings.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) にじ [nìjí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ɲ̟iʑi]

Noun

虹(にじ) • (niji) 

1. a rainbow

   Synonym: 虹霓 (kōgei)

   春雨(はるさめ)がやんだ途(と)端(たん)に、美(うつく)しい虹(にじ)が現(あらわ)れた。

   Harusame ga yanda totan ni, utsukushii niji ga arawareta.

   Just as the spring shower passed, a beautiful rainbow appeared.

   • 938, Minamoto no Shitagō, Wamyō Ruijushō, volume 1:

     虹　毛詩註云：「螮蝀虹也帝董、二音螮又作_レ蝃。」［和名：爾之］
     　　兼名苑云：「虹，一名蜺。」五稽反、與_レ鯢同、又五結倪擊二反。
     　　今按、雄曰_レ虹、雌曰_レ蜺也。

     Rainbow - according to the annotated Mao Commentary, a bridge becomes a rainbow by the Emperor’s command of two syllables: tei-tung or teitō. Japanese name, niji.
     According to the Jianming Yuan, 虹 is also written as 蜺 (Chinese fanqie: 五稽), same [component] with 鯢; five salamanders connect themselves by their ends (Chinese fanqie [of latter]: 擊二).
     Today, males call the rainbow 虹 while females 蜺.

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 虹(にじ)色(いろ) (nijīro)
• 虹(にじ)形(がた) (nijigata)
• 虹(ニジ)雉(キジ) (nijikiji)
• 虹(にじ)縞(しま) (nijishima)
• 虹(にじ)染(ぞ)め (nijizome)
• 虹(にじ)の入(い)り江(え) (niji no irie)
• 虹(にじ)の松(まつ)原(ばら) (Niji no Matsubara)
• 虹(ニジ)鱒(マス) (nijimasu)
• 朝(あさ)虹(にじ) (asaniji)
• 過(か)剰(じょう)虹(にじ) (kajō niji)
• 逆(さか)さ虹(にじ) (sakasaniji)
• 霧(きり)虹(にじ) (kiriniji)
• 二(ふた)重(え)虹(にじ) (futaeniji)
• 雌(め)虹(にじ) (meniji)
• 夕(ゆう)虹(にじ) (yūniji)

Idioms

• 虹(にじ)を吐(は)く (niji o haku)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
虹
のず Grade: S
irregular

For pronunciation and definitions of 虹 – see the following entry.

【のず】 [noun] 虹: (dialectal, Yamagata) rainbow

(This term, 虹, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
虹
こう Grade: S
kan'on

From Middle Chinese 虹 (MC huwng).

Affix

虹(こう) • (kō) 

1. rainbow
2. rainbowlike

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 虹(こう)橋(きょう) (kōkyō)
• 虹(こう)霓(げい), 虹(こう)蜺(げい) (kōgei)
• 虹(こう)彩(さい) (kōsai)
• 虹(こう)視(し) (kōshi)
• 虹(こう)梁(りょう) (kōryō)
• 月(げっ)虹(こう) (gekkō)
• 彩(さい)虹(こう) (saikō)
• 断(だん)虹(こう) (dankō)
• 白(はっ)虹(こう) (hakkō)

Korean

Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 虹 (MC huwng). Recorded as Middle Korean 호ᇰ (hwong) (Yale: hwong) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

Hanja

Wikisource

虹 (eumhun 무지개 홍 (mujigae hong))

1. hanja form^? of 홍 (“rainbow”)

   Synonym: 霓 (예 (ye))

Compounds

Compounds

• 홍채 (虹彩, hongchae, “iris”)
• 홍예 (虹霓, hong'ye, “rainbow”)

Etymology 2

From Middle Chinese 虹 (MC kuwngH).

Hanja

虹 (eumhun 고을 이름 공 (go'eul ireum gong))

1. hanja form^? of 공 (“a placename”)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [3]

Okinawan

Kanji

虹

(Jōyō kanji)

Readings

• Kun: ぬーじ (nūji)

Etymology

Kanji in this term
虹
ぬーじ Grade: S
kun'yomi

From Proto-Ryukyuan *nozi.

Pronunciation

• (Shuri) ぬ​ーじ [núꜜùjì] (Kakō – [1])
• IPA^(key): [nuːʑi]

Noun

虹(ぬーじ) (nūji) 

1. a rainbow

Old Japanese

Etymology

From Proto-Japonic *nonsi. (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Noun

虹 (nizi) (kana にじ)

1. a rainbow

   Synonyms: ぬじ (nuzi), のじ (no₁zi)

   • 711–712, Kojiki, middle volume (Emperor Ōjin; Kanenaga-bon glosses):

     此沼之邊、一賤女晝寢、於是日耀_二如_レ虹_一、指_二其陰上_一。

     In the vicinity of the pond, the vulgar woman slept during the day, then on this day, like a shining rainbow, she fingered the upper vagina.

Descendants

• Japanese: 虹 (niji)

Vietnamese

Han character

虹: Hán Việt readings: hồng
虹: Nôm readings: vồng

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.