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缯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
缯zēngsilk; to tie, to bind; surnameg, 15 strokes, radical 纟, rank #97931, Very Hard
缯zēngsurname Zengunknown, 15 strokes, radical 纟, rank #97931, Very Hard
缯zèngsilk; to tie, to bind; surnameg, 15 strokes, radical 纟, rank #97931, Very Hard
缯zèngsurname Zengunknown, 15 strokes, radical 纟, rank #97931, Very Hard
zēng(Zeng1)zeng
primary
T1
  1. 1silk; to tie, to bind; surname
Also a Chinese surname, Zeng — see the Surname Dictionary
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March 24, 2026

缯(繒)zēng(Zeng1)

The character 缯 (zēng) primarily refers to a type of silk or fabric. It is often used in the context of binding or tying things together. This character can also represent the surname Zeng, which is associated with various historical figures in Chinese culture.

Strokes15Radical纟Frequency#97931DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Silk has a rich history in China, often referred to as the 'Silk Road' trade route that historically connected China to the West. The character 缯 symbolizes this cultural significance and the craftsmanship involved in silk production.

Memory tip

Imagine a beautiful silk ribbon (缯) that you use to tie a gift. The character has a 'silk' radical (丝) on the left, hinting at its connection to fabric. Visualize the act of binding the ribbon around the gift, which also reinforces the meaning of 'to tie.'

Meanings of 缯

zēng(Zeng1)
primary
1silk; to tie, to bind; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 缯

缯Simplified
繒Traditional
15Strokes
纟Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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AI Study Notes for 缯

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 缯 with similar-sounding characters. It is more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversation, so it's often found in literary contexts or when discussing textiles. Common collocations include 缯带 (silk ribbon) and 缯绳 (silk cord).

HSK Study Tips

Although 缯 is not included in the HSK levels, students at HSK 4 and above might encounter it in reading materials related to textiles or traditional crafts. Focus on understanding the context in which it appears, especially in descriptions of clothing or artistry.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 缯 with 绑 (bǎng), which means 'to bind' but is more commonly used in everyday language. Remember that 缯 specifically denotes silk and is less frequently used.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 缯

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Etymology of 缯

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

silk

Semantic (meaning)纟
+
Phonetic (sound)曾
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

缯 = 纟 + 曾. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 缯

IDS Structure⿰纟曾
缯Full character
=
纟si1
left
曾ceng2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 缯?

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

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

The character 缯 (zēng) primarily refers to a type of silk or fabric. It is often used in the context of binding or tying things together. This character can also represent the surname Zeng, which is associated with various historical figures in Chinese culture.

When to use 缯

Be cautious not to confuse 缯 with similar-sounding characters. It is more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversation, so it's often found in literary contexts or when discussing textiles. Common collocations include 缯带 (silk ribbon) and 缯绳 (silk cord).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 缯 with 绑 (bǎng), which means 'to bind' but is more commonly used in everyday language. Remember that 缯 specifically denotes silk and is less frequently used.

Write 缯

缯

Practice writing 缯 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 缯

Words containing this character1
缯zēngto tie繒

Frequently Asked Questions about 缯

In modern contexts, 缯 is mainly associated with silk fabrics and textiles, often used in clothing or decorative items.

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