<p>Actually there are three of these words: 赤道, 黄道, 白道, where '赤' means 'red', '黄' means 'yellow', and '白' means 'white'. </p>

<p>赤道 is the equator. 黄道 is the sun's track in the sky. 白道 is the moon's track in the sky. As for why they are named so - they are named using "the five colors corresponding to five directions", according to 《汉书·天文志》. If you know Chinese, you can refer to this question on 知乎: <a href="https://www.zhihu.com/question/21376627">https://www.zhihu.com/question/21376627</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-25T19:19:17.120Z
Exactly, these words are not translated from English but are words which are already there defined by Chinese astrologist thousands years ago.
Archeosudoerus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-23T23:31:01.107Z
2016-02-23T23:31:01.107Z
bfrguci
<p>Since 赤 means <em>red</em>, <em>bare</em>, and 道 means <em>way</em>, <em>path</em>?</p>

<translation>
Why does 赤道 mean Equator?
# Why does 赤道 mean Equator?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-23)

Since 赤 means *red*, *bare*, and 道 means *way*, *path*?

**Tags:** translation


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-02-23. Score: 7

Actually there are three of these words: 赤道, 黄道, 白道, where '赤' means 'red', '黄' means 'yellow', and '白' means 'white'.

赤道 is the equator. 黄道 is the sun's track in the sky. 白道 is the moon's track in the sky. As for why they are named so - they are named using "the five colors corresponding to five directions", according to 《汉书·天文志》. If you know Chinese, you can refer to this question on 知乎: <https://www.zhihu.com/question/21376627>

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Exactly, these words are not translated from English but are words which are already there defined by Chinese astrologist thousands years ago.  

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