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缣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
缣jiānfine silkg, 13 strokes, radical 纟
缣jiānthick waterproof silkunknown, 13 strokes, radical 纟
jiān(jian1) T1
  1. 1fine silk
  2. 2thick waterproof silk
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March 24, 2026

缣(縑)jiān(jian1)

缣 (jiān) refers to a type of fine silk that is often characterized by its luxurious texture and quality. It is commonly used in traditional Chinese garments and textiles, particularly for formal occasions. The term can also refer to thicker, waterproof silk, which highlights its versatility in textile applications.

Strokes13Radical纟
Cultural Note

In ancient China, 缣 was highly valued and often associated with nobility and wealth, reflecting the social status of those who could afford such luxurious materials. This connection to status can be seen in traditional clothing worn during festivals and ceremonies.

Memory Tip

Imagine a luxurious piece of fine silk draping elegantly. The character 缣 contains the radical '丝' (sī), which means 'silk', reminding you that this word is all about fine fabrics. Picture a grand banquet where everyone is wearing garments made from this exquisite fabric, reinforcing the idea of elegance and quality.

Meanings of 缣

jiān(jian1)
1fine silk
2thick waterproof silk
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 缣

缣Simplified
縑Traditional
13Strokes
纟Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 缣

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Podcast: 缣

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AI Study Notes for 缣

Usage Notes

缣 is a more formal term and is often used in literary or historical contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar sounding words; it is specifically for fine silk. Common collocations include '缣绸' (silk cloth) when discussing textiles.

HSK Study Tips

Though 缣 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to textiles, which may appear in HSK 4-6 when discussing clothing and culture. Focus on the radicals and similar textile-related vocabulary to strengthen your understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 缣 with other silk-related terms like '丝' (sī) which simply means 'silk'. For example, saying '我喜欢丝' (wǒ xǐ huān sī) when referring to fine silk instead of using 缣. The correct expression would be '我喜欢缣' (wǒ xǐ huān jiān).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 缣

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Etymology of 缣

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

silk

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 缣

  1. 1The meaning half纟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half兼 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 缣? 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 缣?

Decomposition of 缣

IDS Structure⿰纟兼
缣Full Character
=
纟si1
left
兼jian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 缣?

How to say fine silk in Chinese

“fine silk” in Chinese is缣jiān

缣 (jiān) refers to a type of fine silk that is often characterized by its luxurious texture and quality. It is commonly used in traditional Chinese garments and textiles, particularly for formal occasions. The term can also refer to thicker, waterproof silk, which highlights its versatility in textile applications.

When to use 缣

缣 is a more formal term and is often used in literary or historical contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar sounding words; it is specifically for fine silk. Common collocations include '缣绸' (silk cloth) when discussing textiles.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 缣 with other silk-related terms like '丝' (sī) which simply means 'silk'. For example, saying '我喜欢丝' (wǒ xǐ huān sī) when referring to fine silk instead of using 缣. The correct expression would be '我喜欢缣' (wǒ xǐ huān jiān).

Write 缣

缣

Practice writing 缣 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 缣

Words Containing This Character1
缣jiānthick waterproof silk縑
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 缣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 缣

It is pronounced as 'jiān'.

Jason Recommends

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