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綵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
綵cǎimotley, variegatedzg, 14 strokes, radical 糹
cǎi(cai3) T3
  1. 1motley, variegated
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

綵cǎi(cai3)

The character 綵 (cǎi) refers to something that is motley or variegated, often associated with colorful patterns or a mix of different hues. It is commonly used in contexts related to textiles, decorations, or art, where a variety of colors are present. The nuance implies richness and vibrancy in visual presentation.

Strokes14Radical糹
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, colorful patterns are significant in festivals and celebrations, symbolizing prosperity and happiness. The use of variegated colors in decorations during events like the Lunar New Year reflects the importance of color in conveying festive spirit.

Memory Tip

Imagine a colorful rainbow weaving through a fabric (the '綵' character is like threads in a tapestry). The top part, '糸', represents silk or threads, while the bottom '彩' sounds like 'cǎi', which means colors. Picture a vibrant fabric full of colors to remember 'cǎi' means colorful or variegated.

Meanings of 綵

cǎi(cai3)
1motley, variegated
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 綵

綵Simplified
14Strokes
糹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 綵

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Podcast: 綵

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 綵

Quick Contrast

彩 (cǎi) refers to color in a more general sense, while 綵 (cǎi) emphasizes a rich, variegated pattern or design.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 綵 with 彩 (cǎi), which also means color but is more commonly used in everyday language. Use 綵 in more artistic or descriptive contexts, while 彩 is more prevalent in casual conversation. Ensure to maintain the correct tone as mispronouncing cǎi can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

As this character is not part of the HSK vocabulary, focus on related words like 彩 (cǎi), which is more commonly used. Understanding the context of color in Chinese culture can help reinforce the meaning of 綵. Look for opportunities to practice with phrases that incorporate color.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 綵 in situations where 彩 would be more appropriate, such as in everyday descriptions of colors. For example, saying '我喜欢綵的衣服' (I like the motley clothes) should be corrected to '我喜欢彩色的衣服' (I like colorful clothes).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 綵

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Etymology of 綵

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

silk

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 綵

  1. 1The meaning half糹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half采 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 綵? 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 綵?

Decomposition of 綵

IDS Structure⿰糹采
綵Full Character
=
糹si1
left
采cai3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 綵?

How to say motley, variegated in Chinese

“motley, variegated” in Chinese is綵cǎi

The character 綵 (cǎi) refers to something that is motley or variegated, often associated with colorful patterns or a mix of different hues. It is commonly used in contexts related to textiles, decorations, or art, where a variety of colors are present. The nuance implies richness and vibrancy in visual presentation.

When to use 綵

Learners often confuse 綵 with 彩 (cǎi), which also means color but is more commonly used in everyday language. Use 綵 in more artistic or descriptive contexts, while 彩 is more prevalent in casual conversation. Ensure to maintain the correct tone as mispronouncing cǎi can lead to misunderstandings.

綵 or something close to it

彩 (cǎi) refers to color in a more general sense, while 綵 (cǎi) emphasizes a rich, variegated pattern or design.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly use 綵 in situations where 彩 would be more appropriate, such as in everyday descriptions of colors. For example, saying '我喜欢綵的衣服' (I like the motley clothes) should be corrected to '我喜欢彩色的衣服' (I like colorful clothes).

Write 綵

綵

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 綵

綵 (cǎi) emphasizes a motley or variegated appearance, while 彩 (cǎi) generally refers to color in a more general sense.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 綵?

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.