colorful
colorful — adjective
1. the US way of writing the word 'colourful'
the US way of writing the word 'colourful'
The US spelling 'colorful' is more common than the UK spelling 'colourful' in American books.
spelling note: US vs UK -ful/-our
My teacher wrote 'colorful' on the board because our school uses American English.
When reading British novels, I sometimes forget they spell 'colourful' with a 'u'.
Both 'colorful' and 'colourful' are correct — the difference is just where you live.
用法筆記
This is the American English spelling. In British English the word is written 'colourful' with the letters 'u' after 'o'. Both spellings cover the same meanings — there is no difference in usage or definition, only in spelling convention.
2. having many bright, rich, or different colors instead of being plain or dull
having many bright, rich, or different colors instead of being plain or dull
The children's bedroom was painted in colorful stripes of blue, green, and yellow.
attributive use: colorful + noun
Ravi wore a colorful shirt covered in patterns of birds and flowers.
collocation: colorful + clothing item
The garden looked especially colorful after the spring rains brought all the flowers to bloom.
A colorful parrot perched on the balcony rail, its feathers glowing in the morning sun.
The open-air market sold colorful fabrics in every shade imaginable.
- vivid
emphasizes intensity and brightness of each color, not necessarily variety
- bright
can describe a single color's intensity; 'bright' alone does not imply multiple colors
- vibrant
suggests lively, strong colors that catch the eye
- multicolored
more neutral and factual; just states many colors are present
文法句型
colorful + noun
be + colorful
用法筆記
Frequently used before a noun to describe something with several colors at once, not just one bright color. A 'colorful painting' has many hues; a 'bright red painting' has only one intense hue.
常見錯誤
3. lively and rich in character or content — used of people, events, stories, and l
lively and rich in character or content — used of people, events, stories, and language to describe something that is exciting, surprising, or even a little shocking because of its variety or unusual qualities
The old fisherman had a colorful past — dancer, sailor, and gold miner.
collocation: colorful + past / history / career
Leila told a colorful story about getting lost in the streets of Marrakesh.
collocation: colorful + story / description
The coach used some colorful language after the referee's call, and the crowd gasped.
The festival drew a colorful crowd of painters, musicians, and street performers from ten countries.
What makes the city so colorful is the way old traditions mix with modern life.
- interesting
broader and more neutral; does not carry the 'shocking' edge
- lively
focuses on energy rather than variety
- vivid
can overlap in the 'vivid imagination' sense, but is less about variety and more about clarity or intensity
- varied
emphasizes diversity without the excitement or shock connotation
- dull
not interesting, boring
- boring
completely uninteresting, tedious
- monotonous
lacking in variety, repetitive
文法句型
colorful + noun
be + colorful
用法筆記
When applied to people's speech ('colorful language'), this sense often serves as a polite way to say that someone used rude or offensive words. Distinguish from sense 2: a 'colorful painting' is literally full of colors, while a 'colorful story' is figuratively full of interest.