Meanings of 線
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About 線
Podcast: 線
Podcast: 線
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AI Study Notes for 線
線 (xiàn) vs 條 (tiáo) — use 線 for lines or threads specifically, while 條 is more general for long, thin objects.
Be careful not to confuse 線 (xiàn) with 線路 (xiàn lù), which means 'route' or 'line' in transportation contexts. This term is more formal, so use it appropriately in writing or discussions about technology and engineering. Remember that the fourth tone can sometimes be mispronounced as a neutral tone.
Since '線' is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, focus on its components, like the radical 糸 (yī), which relates to silk and threads. Connecting it with other HSK words that involve lines or connections can help strengthen your understanding.
Learners often confuse 線 with 線索 (xiàn suǒ), which means 'clue' or 'thread of thought'. For example, saying '我需要一條線索' (wǒ xūyào yītiáo xiàn) is correct for 'I need a clue', but saying '我需要一條線' would incorrectly imply needing a physical line instead.
Pronunciation of 線
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Etymology of 線
Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 戋 represents the sound. Simplified form of 線.
thread
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 線
Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 戋 represents the sound. Simplified form of 線.
- 1The meaning half糹 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half泉 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaythread
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 線? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 線?
Decomposition of 線
Identify the Components
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How to say line, thread, wire; clue, trail in Chinese
“line, thread, wire; clue, trail” in Chinese is線
The character 線 (xiàn) refers to a line, thread, or wire, and can also imply a clue or trail in a metaphorical sense. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical lines, such as in engineering or textiles, as well as in abstract contexts like drawing connections or following clues.
When to use 線
Be careful not to confuse 線 (xiàn) with 線路 (xiàn lù), which means 'route' or 'line' in transportation contexts. This term is more formal, so use it appropriately in writing or discussions about technology and engineering. Remember that the fourth tone can sometimes be mispronounced as a neutral tone.
線 or something close to it
線 (xiàn) vs 條 (tiáo) — use 線 for lines or threads specifically, while 條 is more general for long, thin objects.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 線 with 線索 (xiàn suǒ), which means 'clue' or 'thread of thought'. For example, saying '我需要一條線索' (wǒ xūyào yītiáo xiàn) is correct for 'I need a clue', but saying '我需要一條線' would incorrectly imply needing a physical line instead.
Write 線
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Practice writing 線 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 線
Compound Meaning
What does 线 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 線
Common phrases include '電線' (diàn xiàn) meaning 'electric wire' and '細線' (xì xiàn) meaning 'fine line'.
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