Color is one of the many wonders in the world. Without it, our life would be extremely pale and dim. So let’s study the translation of color words, which takes significant part in our daily life.

1. literal translation

(1) just translate it into the corresponding meaning in Chinese.

She became red-faced.
她脸红了。
O my luve’s like a red, red rose, That’s newly sprung in June.
呵，我的爱人就像一朵火红火红的玫瑰，六月里迎风初开。
(2)we need to add some explaination in order to convey the essential meaning.
Pink collar
粉领阶层，粉领族（职业女性，尤指从事办公室工作的女性）
Yellow Journalism
“黄颜色”新闻编辑作风（指不择手段夸张、渲染以招揽或影响读者，八卦新闻编辑作风）
2. free translation

black tea 红茶

brown sugar 红糖
purple wine 红葡萄酒
green eye 眼红
blue films 黄色电影

be bruised black and blue 被撞得青一块紫一块

Read Also: Translation of Onomatopoetic Words

3. erase the color (explain the meaning that color words carry)

Mr Brown is a very white man. He was looking rather green the other day. He has been feeling blue lately. When I saw him, he was in a brown study. I hope he’ll soon be in the pink again.

布朗先生是一位非常忠实可靠的人，那天他脸色不好，近来都闷闷不乐。我见到他时，他显得心事重重。希望他能早点振作起来。
In America political elections the candidates that win are usually the ones who have green power backing them.
在美国竞选中获胜的候选人通常都是些有财团支持的人物。
4. add the color (for vividly displaying the original picture)

The soldiers didn’t shed their blood in vain.

战士们的鲜血没有白流。
We’re not gonna let him bring shame on our team.
我们绝不会让他给我们队脸上抹黑。