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March 24, 2026
绌(絀)chù(chu4)
The character 绌 (chù) primarily means 'to stitch' or 'to sew,' often referring to the act of joining materials together. It can also imply a sense of insufficiency or deficiency in quality or quantity. In some contexts, it relates to crimson silk, highlighting its ties to textiles and traditional craftsmanship.
Strokes8Radical纟Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, textiles have a rich history, and the art of stitching is celebrated in various traditional forms, such as embroidery. The word 绌 reflects the importance of craftsmanship in Chinese heritage.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tailor (who stitches) working on a beautiful crimson silk garment. The character 绌 has a 'thread' radical (糸) indicating its connection to textiles, and the pronunciation 'chù' sounds like 'chew,' as if you're chewing on the silk thread while stitching.
Meanings of 绌
chù(chu4)
1to stitch, to sew; insufficient
2crimson silk
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 绌
绌Simplified
絀Traditional
8Strokes
纟Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 绌
Podcast: 绌
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AI Study Notes for 绌
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a tailor (who stitches) working on a beautiful crimson silk garment. The character 绌 has a 'thread' radical (糸) indicating its connection to textiles, and the pronunciation 'chù' sounds like 'chew,' as if you're chewing on the silk thread while stitching.
Usage Notes
绌 is used primarily in written contexts and may appear in literary or formal discussions about textiles. Learners should be cautious of its formal tone and avoid using it in casual conversation. The common collocation is 绌缝 (chùfèng), meaning 'to stitch together.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 绌 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects to topics related to textiles that may appear in advanced studies. Students should focus on understanding the context in which it appears, particularly in literature or discussions about traditional crafts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, textiles have a rich history, and the art of stitching is celebrated in various traditional forms, such as embroidery. The word 绌 reflects the importance of craftsmanship in Chinese heritage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 绌 with similar characters. For instance, mixing it up with 缮 (shàn) which means 'to mend' can lead to incorrect context usage. Remember, 绌 specifically emphasizes stitching, while 缮 relates more to repairs.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 绌
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Grammar Patterns of 绌
绌 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 2
Complete the Sentence
这一设计令其他作品相形见____。
This design knocks everything else into a cocked hat.
This design knocks everything else into a cocked hat.
2
你那漂亮的花园使我那几朵小花相形见绌.
nǐ nà piāo liàng de huā yuán shǐ wǒ nà jī duǒ xiǎo huā xiāng xíng jiàn chù.
Your beautiful garden put my a few little flowers to shame.
Cultural Notes for 绌
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, textiles have a rich history, and the art of stitching is celebrated in various traditional forms, such as embroidery. The word 绌 reflects the importance of craftsmanship in Chinese heritage.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
The concept of stitching and textiles is universally recognized, but in Western cultures, the emphasis may be more on fashion trends, whereas in China, it is often tied to cultural significance and craftsmanship.
Word Family of 绌
Words Containing This Character4
相形见绌to pale by comparison (idiom)相形見絀
绌chùcrimson silk絀
左支右绌to be in straitened circumstances左支右絀
心余力绌the will is there, but not the strength (idiom)心餘力絀
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 相形见绌 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 绌
您可以说：她用红色绌缝了这件衣服。
No, 绌 is more formal and literary, often found in written texts related to textiles.
Think of 'chù' like 'chew' as you stitch through fabric.
