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縞 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
縞gǎoplain white silkx, 16 strokes, radical 糹, rank #88267, Very Hard
gǎo(gao3) T3
  1. 1plain white silk
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

縞gǎo(gao3)

The character 縞 (gǎo) refers to a type of plain white silk fabric, often associated with traditional Chinese garments. It conveys a sense of simplicity and elegance, and it is commonly used in discussions of textiles or traditional clothing design.

Strokes16Radical糹Frequency#88267DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, silk has a rich history and is often associated with luxury and craftsmanship, particularly in traditional clothing like the qipao. The use of silk is also significant during festivals and special occasions, symbolizing prosperity.

Memory Tip

Think of a delicate white ribbon flowing in the wind, representing the softness of silk. The character 縞 has a flowing form that resembles the smooth texture of silk, while the sound 'gǎo' can remind you of 'gown', which is often made of fine materials like silk.

Meanings of 縞

gǎo(gao3)
1plain white silk
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 縞

縞Simplified
16Strokes
糹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 縞

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Podcast: 縞

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AI Study Notes for 縞

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation, making it more formal or specialized. It's important to be aware that it might not be recognized by all speakers, so context is key when using it. Common collocations include references to traditional clothing or descriptions of fabric types.

HSK Study Tips

As 縞 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on related textile terms and context. This will help in understanding discussions related to traditional clothing and cultural practices. Familiarity with characters for 'silk' (丝, sī) can also be beneficial.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 縞 with similar characters related to silk, such as 丝 (sī), which means 'silk'. A common mistake is using 縞 when referring to any type of silk fabric instead of the specific plain white silk. Always clarify the context when discussing fabrics.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 縞

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Etymology of 縞

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

silk

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 縞

  1. 1The meaning half糹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half高 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 縞? 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 縞?

Decomposition of 縞

IDS Structure⿰糹高
縞Full Character
=
糹si1
left
高Gao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 縞?

How to say plain white silk in Chinese

“plain white silk” in Chinese is縞gǎo

The character 縞 (gǎo) refers to a type of plain white silk fabric, often associated with traditional Chinese garments. It conveys a sense of simplicity and elegance, and it is commonly used in discussions of textiles or traditional clothing design.

When to use 縞

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation, making it more formal or specialized. It's important to be aware that it might not be recognized by all speakers, so context is key when using it. Common collocations include references to traditional clothing or descriptions of fabric types.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 縞 with similar characters related to silk, such as 丝 (sī), which means 'silk'. A common mistake is using 縞 when referring to any type of silk fabric instead of the specific plain white silk. Always clarify the context when discussing fabrics.

Write 縞

縞

Practice writing 縞 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 縞

Words Containing This Character2
缟gǎoplain white silk縞
缟素white silk mourning dress縞素
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 缟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 縞

No, 縞 is more often found in literary or specialized contexts related to textiles.

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