灰白 (huī bái) is a compound adjective formed by combining 灰 (huī, 'ash' or 'gray') and 白 (bái, 'white'). Literally meaning 'ash-white', it describes a pale, muted grayish-white color — cooler and less vibrant than pure white, with visible gray undertones. It is most commonly used to describe physical appearances associated with aging or illness, especially hair that has lost pigment (e.g., graying temples) or skin that appears wan, bloodless, or fatigued.

This term carries subtle connotations of frailty, maturity, or diminished vitality, making it frequent in medical, literary, or descriptive contexts — for instance, when portraying an elderly person’s hair or someone recovering from illness whose complexion lacks healthy color. Unlike neutral terms like 灰色 (gray) or 白色 (white), 灰白 emphasizes the blended, desaturated quality and often implies a natural, gradual change rather than an artificial or uniform shade.