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繒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
繒zēngsilk; to tie, to bind; surnamex, 18 strokes, radical 糹
zēng(zeng1) T1
  1. 1silk; to tie, to bind; surname
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March 24, 2026

繒zēng(zeng1)

The character 繒 (zēng) primarily refers to a type of silk or the act of tying and binding. It can also be used as a surname. In usage, it often relates to textiles or the process of fastening objects together, conveying a sense of connection and durability.

Strokes18Radical糹
Cultural Note

Silk has a significant place in Chinese history as one of the country's most famous exports and a vital part of its cultural identity. The Silk Road, an ancient trade route, was named after this luxurious fabric, highlighting its importance in connecting cultures.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautifully woven silk scarf that is carefully tied in a knot. The intricate patterns of the silk represent the complexity of the character 繒, with its components symbolizing the threads binding together. The 'z' sound in 'zēng' can be remembered by thinking of 'zipping' up this lovely scarf.

Meanings of 繒

zēng(zeng1)
1silk; to tie, to bind; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 繒

繒Simplified
18Strokes
糹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 繒

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Podcast: 繒

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AI Study Notes for 繒

Usage Notes

Learners sometimes confuse 繒 with similar characters related to fabrics, such as 絹 (silk) or 織 (weave). This character is more formal and specific to particular contexts, so it may not be used in everyday conversation about clothing. Pay attention to the tones, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 繒 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with HSK Level 3 vocabulary related to clothing (e.g., 衣服 yīfu). Focus on recognizing its usage in texts about textiles or culture to enhance your reading skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 繒 with other textile-related characters, like 絹 or 結. For example, using 繒 instead of 結 when talking about tying something can lead to misunderstanding; the correct usage would be 結 (jié) for 'to tie.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 繒

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Etymology of 繒

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

silk

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 繒

  1. 1The meaning half糹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half曾 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 繒? 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 繒?

Decomposition of 繒

IDS Structure⿰糹曾
繒Full Character
=
糹si1
left
曾ceng2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 繒?

How to say silk; to tie, to bind; surname in Chinese

“silk; to tie, to bind; surname” in Chinese is繒zēng

The character 繒 (zēng) primarily refers to a type of silk or the act of tying and binding. It can also be used as a surname. In usage, it often relates to textiles or the process of fastening objects together, conveying a sense of connection and durability.

When to use 繒

Learners sometimes confuse 繒 with similar characters related to fabrics, such as 絹 (silk) or 織 (weave). This character is more formal and specific to particular contexts, so it may not be used in everyday conversation about clothing. Pay attention to the tones, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other characters.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 繒 with other textile-related characters, like 絹 or 結. For example, using 繒 instead of 結 when talking about tying something can lead to misunderstanding; the correct usage would be 結 (jié) for 'to tie.'

Write 繒

繒

Practice writing 繒 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 繒

Words Containing This Character1
缯zēngto tie繒
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 缯 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 繒

It primarily means silk, but it can also refer to the act of tying or binding.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 繒?

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