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絹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
絹juàna kind of thick stiff silkx, 13 strokes, radical 糹
juàn(juan4) T4
  1. 1a kind of thick stiff silk
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March 24, 2026

絹juàn(juan4)

The character 絹 (juàn) refers to a type of thick, stiff silk, traditionally used in Chinese textiles. It is commonly associated with luxury fabrics and is often used in clothing and decorative items. In modern contexts, it may also refer to silk products in general.

Strokes13Radical糹
Cultural Note

Silk has a significant role in Chinese history, particularly during the Silk Road period, where it was a major trade commodity. The use of 絹 highlights the importance of silk in traditional Chinese clothing and art.

Memory Tip

Imagine a thick silk thread tightly woven together, creating a strong fabric. The character 絹 looks like a series of threads (the top part resembles a weaving pattern) coming together to form a luxurious piece of silk, reminding you of its rich texture and the sound 'juàn' which can be associated with the sound of threading a needle.

Meanings of 絹

juàn(juan4)
1a kind of thick stiff silk
Exercise 1 of 2

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Choose the correct answer:

About 絹

絹Simplified
13Strokes
糹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 絹

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Podcast: 絹

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AI Study Notes for 絹

Quick Contrast

丝 (sī) - use 絹 (juàn) for thicker, stiffer silk, while丝 (sī) refers to finer, softer silk.

Usage Notes

This term is often used in formal contexts related to textiles, fashion, and crafts. A common mistake is to confuse 絹 (juàn) with other silk-related terms like 蠶 (cán), which means 'silkworm'. Be mindful of using the correct tone; the third tone 'juàn' can easily be mispronounced, leading to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 絹 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 3 and 4 vocabulary concerning clothing and materials. Students should focus on recognizing the character's form and its relation to other textile-related words like 布 (bù, cloth) and 絲 (sī, thread).

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 絹 as 'juān', confusing it with the word for 'to see' (见). Additionally, some may incorrectly use it to refer to any silk, rather than specifically thick silk.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 絹

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Etymology of 絹

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

silk

Semantic (meaning)糹
+
Phonetic (sound)肙
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 絹

  1. 1The meaning half糹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half肙 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaysilk
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 絹? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 絹?

Decomposition of 絹

IDS Structure⿰糹肙
絹Full Character
=
糹si1
left
肙yuan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 絹?

How to say a kind of thick stiff silk in Chinese

“a kind of thick stiff silk” in Chinese is絹juàn

The character 絹 (juàn) refers to a type of thick, stiff silk, traditionally used in Chinese textiles. It is commonly associated with luxury fabrics and is often used in clothing and decorative items. In modern contexts, it may also refer to silk products in general.

When to use 絹

This term is often used in formal contexts related to textiles, fashion, and crafts. A common mistake is to confuse 絹 (juàn) with other silk-related terms like 蠶 (cán), which means 'silkworm'. Be mindful of using the correct tone; the third tone 'juàn' can easily be mispronounced, leading to misunderstandings.

絹 or something close to it

丝 (sī) - use 絹 (juàn) for thicker, stiffer silk, while丝 (sī) refers to finer, softer silk.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 絹 as 'juān', confusing it with the word for 'to see' (见). Additionally, some may incorrectly use it to refer to any silk, rather than specifically thick silk.

Write 絹

絹

Practice writing 絹 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 絹

Words Containing This Character2
绢juànthin, tough silk fabric絹
手绢handkerchief手絹
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 绢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 絹

絹 refers specifically to thick silk, while 絲 refers to silk thread or fine silk.

Jason Recommends

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Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.