What Does 翡 (Fei) Mean in Jadeite? How to Judge Red Fei

What does 翡 (fei) mean in jadeite?

Traditionally, 翡 (fei) refers to red and 翠 (cui) refers to green, so the word 翡翠 (feicui) is a combination of red and green. The name is generally believed to come from the plumage of the kingfisher: the male has red feathers, called 翡, and the female has green feathers, called 翠.

In the Ming dynasty, when jade from Myanmar (Burma) was introduced to China, the name 翡翠 was adopted for it.

What is red fei?

Red fei is jadeite with a red color. When people think of jadeite they usually think of green, but red is in fact the original meaning of 翡, and it is one of the most distinctive colors of jadeite. To learn about more jadeite colors, see What Colors Does Jadeite Come In? A Beginner's Guide to Jadeite Color.

How do you judge red fei?

Start with three things:

1. Pure color: orange-red to true red is more popular; brownish tones are less appealing.
2. Vivid and saturated: vivid, highly saturated color is generally more valued than pale color.
3. Translucent texture: good texture and translucency make the color look brighter.

We recommend judging color in natural light, which is closest to the true appearance of the jadeite.

What should you check before buying red fei?

Red color can also be artificially dyed, so before you buy:

1. Confirm it is natural Type A: see What Is Type A Jadeite? A, B and C Jade Explained for Beginners.
2. Ask whether a gemmological certificate is provided: a certificate can confirm whether the stone is natural and whether it has been treated.

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