<p>Generally, 紅色的書红色的书）is better. Red (adj.) Book (n.).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-02T21:09:03.467Z
In addition, to clarify: 红色的书 (adjective + noun) vs. 红书 (noun).
amateur
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-02T23:11:28.637Z
Yes, that's true. 红书 is **a specific noun**.
Jamie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-02T23:12:46.113Z
In different cases, we use different format.
Jamie
CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-02-02T13:08:49.507Z
2020-06-08T21:52:11.147Z
2020-06-08T21:52:11.147Z
Jamie
<p>Both 红色的书 are 红书 correct, 红 alone has the meaning of 红色的(of the color red), for example:"那是一本红书"(That is a red book), in this example we use 红 to describe the color of a book, it's an adjective, its meaning is the same as 红色的. However, the character of 红 sometimes can be part of a noun which composed of two or more character, example: 红豆, 红茶, 红包, in this case 红 is a part of a noun, but it also implies that the thing is of red color.</p>

<p>If you want to describe a red thing, and you don't want to make grammar error, it is safer to use "红色的", because sometimes use 红 alone cannot complete a sentence, for example you can not say"那东西是红", that sentence isn't complete, you must say "那东西是红色的"(That thing is red).</p>

<p>The rule of above can be applied to other colors,for example:<br>
橙chéng orange, 橙色的 of the color orange <br>
黃Huáng yellow, 黃色的 of the color yellow <br>
綠lǜ green, 綠色的 of the color green <br> 
藍lán blue 藍色的of the color blue<br>
紫zǐ purple, 紫色的of the color purple<br></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-07T04:29:01.960Z
Thank you so much!  Does it mean it will be always correct if I say this structure "color+的+noun"?
nkm
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-08T13:24:11.133Z
@nkm Ya, you are right, but to be more formal, use this form: "color+色+的+noun" e.g.紅色的書, 紫色的花
ChaoYang
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-04T15:39:21.347Z
2014-02-04T15:39:21.347Z
ChaoYang
<p>It depends on situation.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>毛主席的小红书 The little red book of Chairman Mao</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Here, we don't use 小红色的书.</p>

<p>But usually, we use 红色的书</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>那本红色的书 That red book</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-20T03:03:48.147Z
2014-03-20T03:03:48.147Z
Ave Maleficum
<p>If the "red" describes the attribute of an object, you'd better suffix with “的” 比如 红色的椅子，红色的书. For some situation, it's a fixed phase, such as the red traffic light. 你只能说红灯. Red also has the implication of the things regarding to Mao Ze Dong and communism revolution, in this case, you don't use “的” after 红.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-03-20T07:15:11.807Z
2020-06-08T21:52:39.640Z
2020-06-08T21:52:39.640Z
sotondolphin
<p>I'd like to know how to say "red book" in Mandarin.</p>

<p>Can it be 红色 的 书 or 红书? </p>

<p>I read a book to learn about color, it used 红色 的 before a noun but I heard in a song it used only 红 before noun.</p>

<p>I feel confused.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-02T11:56:27.123Z
红书 has special meaning in Chinese, it may make people think it's "红宝书" (Mao Tse-tung's Little Red Book). So generally, 红色的书 is OK.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-02T11:58:00.027Z
Do you mean 毛主席語錄? You can search the image with this name by using Google.^^
Joshua LI
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-02T12:15:45.567Z
红皮书. Similarly bluebook (in the sense of almanac) = 蓝皮书
user58955
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-02T14:33:49.607Z
Thank you so much!I just want to know how to say color. So when we talk about color like this we use "color+的+noun", right?  So if I say "white rabbit", I should say "白色 的 兔" better than  白兔, right? And is it possible to say "白色 兔"?
nkm
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-02T17:25:59.380Z
No, no one says 白色兔, it is weird in prosody. If the noun has two characters, it would be all right to say 白色 such as 白色衬衫. (白衬衫 is also okay.)
user58955
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-02T21:07:22.083Z
There are two ways to say "white rabbit". 小白兔 (xiǎo bái tù) and 白色的兔子 (báisè de tùzǐ). Rabbit is called 兔子 not 兔 alone. Small children will say 兔兔 or 小兔兔.
amateur
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-03T03:56:03.187Z
@ user58955 Ah!I see that 's why I ever heard 红太阳 from a song. It's very useful.
nkm
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-03T03:59:28.817Z
@amateur Your information about 兔子 is useful I have to learn more about 子. I heard many words have 子. Plus, I like those children words, 兔兔 or 小兔兔.
nkm
<grammar>
How to say "red book"?
# How to say "red book"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-02-02)

I'd like to know how to say "red book" in Mandarin.

Can it be 红色 的 书 or 红书?

I read a book to learn about color, it used 红色 的 before a noun but I heard in a song it used only 红 before noun.

I feel confused.

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 红书 has special meaning in Chinese, it may make people think it's "红宝书" (Mao Tse-tung's Little Red Book). So generally, 红色的书 is OK.  
> **username_2**: Do you mean 毛主席語錄? You can search the image with this name by using Google.^^  
> **username_3**: 红皮书. Similarly bluebook (in the sense of almanac) = 蓝皮书  
> **username_0**: Thank you so much!I just want to know how to say color. So when we talk about color like this we use "color+的+noun", right?  So if I say "white rabbit", I should say "白色 的 兔" better than  白兔, right? And is it possible to say "白色 兔"?  
> **username_3**: No, no one says 白色兔, it is weird in prosody. If the noun has two characters, it would be all right to say 白色 such as 白色衬衫. (白衬衫 is also okay.)  
> **username_4**: There are two ways to say "white rabbit". 小白兔 (xiǎo bái tù) and 白色的兔子 (báisè de tùzǐ). Rabbit is called 兔子 not 兔 alone. Small children will say 兔兔 or 小兔兔.  
> **username_0**: @ username_3 Ah!I see that 's why I ever heard 红太阳 from a song. It's very useful.  
> **username_0**: @username_4 Your information about 兔子 is useful I have to learn more about 子. I heard many words have 子. Plus, I like those children words, 兔兔 or 小兔兔.  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-02-02. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Generally, 紅色的書红色的书）is better. Red (adj.) Book (n.).

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: In addition, to clarify: 红色的书 (adjective + noun) vs. 红书 (noun).  
> **username_5**: Yes, that's true. 红书 is **a specific noun**.  
> **username_5**: In different cases, we use different format.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-02-04. Score: 4

Both 红色的书 are 红书 correct, 红 alone has the meaning of 红色的(of the color red), for example:"那是一本红书"(That is a red book), in this example we use 红 to describe the color of a book, it's an adjective, its meaning is the same as 红色的. However, the character of 红 sometimes can be part of a noun which composed of two or more character, example: 红豆, 红茶, 红包, in this case 红 is a part of a noun, but it also implies that the thing is of red color.

If you want to describe a red thing, and you don't want to make grammar error, it is safer to use "红色的", because sometimes use 红 alone cannot complete a sentence, for example you can not say"那东西是红", that sentence isn't complete, you must say "那东西是红色的"(That thing is red).

The rule of above can be applied to other colors,for example:  
橙chéng orange, 橙色的 of the color orange   
黃Huáng yellow, 黃色的 of the color yellow   
綠lǜ green, 綠色的 of the color green   
藍lán blue 藍色的of the color blue  
紫zǐ purple, 紫色的of the color purple

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you so much!  Does it mean it will be always correct if I say this structure "color+的+noun"?  
> **username_6**: @username_0 Ya, you are right, but to be more formal, use this form: "color+色+的+noun" e.g.紅色的書, 紫色的花  

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### Answer by username_7 on 2014-03-20. Score: 0

It depends on situation.

> 毛主席的小红书 The little red book of Chairman Mao

Here, we don't use 小红色的书.

But usually, we use 红色的书

> 那本红色的书 That red book


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### Answer by username_8 on 2014-03-20. Score: 0

If the "red" describes the attribute of an object, you'd better suffix with “的” 比如 红色的椅子，红色的书. For some situation, it's a fixed phase, such as the red traffic light. 你只能说红灯. Red also has the implication of the things regarding to Mao Ze Dong and communism revolution, in this case, you don't use “的” after 红.


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