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絘 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
絘cìa tax on rolls of clothx, 12 strokes, radical 糹
絘cìancient tax in the form of bales of clothunknown, 12 strokes, radical 糹
cì(ci4) T4
  1. 1a tax on rolls of cloth
  2. 2ancient tax in the form of bales of cloth
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March 24, 2026

絘cì(ci4)

The character 絘 (cì) refers to a historical tax that was levied on rolls of cloth. This tax was typically paid in the form of bales of fabric, reflecting the significance of cloth as a commodity in ancient Chinese society. Its usage is largely archaic and is not commonly encountered in contemporary language.

Strokes12Radical糹
Cultural Note

The concept of taxing cloth is rooted in ancient Chinese economic practices, where textiles were a major trade commodity. This character reflects the historical importance of fabric in both daily life and the economy, illustrating how taxes were a means of government revenue.

Memory Tip

Imagine a rolling bolt of cloth being taxed as it rolls down a hill. The character 絘 looks like a fabric roll (the top part) being weighed down by a heavy tax (the bottom part). This visual helps connect the pronunciation 'cì' with the concept of cloth and tax.

Meanings of 絘

cì(ci4)
1a tax on rolls of cloth
2ancient tax in the form of bales of cloth
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 絘

絘Simplified
12Strokes
糹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 絘

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Podcast: 絘

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AI Study Notes for 絘

Usage Notes

Since 絘 is an ancient term, it may not be suitable for everyday conversation and is primarily found in historical texts. Learners should be cautious when using it in modern contexts, as it might not be understood. Be aware of the tone; the pronunciation is 'cì', with a falling tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding this character can enhance your knowledge of historical terms related to commerce and taxation in Chinese history. It connects with HSK vocabulary related to trade and economy, helping learners see the evolution of language in commerce.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 絘 with similar characters related to fabric or trade, such as 布 (bù), meaning 'cloth'. A common mistake is to use 絘 in a modern context, where it would be incorrect; it should be reserved for historical discussions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 絘

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Etymology of 絘

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

silk

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 絘

  1. 1The meaning half糹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half次 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 絘? 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 絘?

Decomposition of 絘

IDS Structure⿰糹次
絘Full Character
=
糹si1
left
次ci4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 絘?

How to say a tax on rolls of cloth in Chinese

“a tax on rolls of cloth” in Chinese is絘cì

The character 絘 (cì) refers to a historical tax that was levied on rolls of cloth. This tax was typically paid in the form of bales of fabric, reflecting the significance of cloth as a commodity in ancient Chinese society. Its usage is largely archaic and is not commonly encountered in contemporary language.

When to use 絘

Since 絘 is an ancient term, it may not be suitable for everyday conversation and is primarily found in historical texts. Learners should be cautious when using it in modern contexts, as it might not be understood. Be aware of the tone; the pronunciation is 'cì', with a falling tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 絘 with similar characters related to fabric or trade, such as 布 (bù), meaning 'cloth'. A common mistake is to use 絘 in a modern context, where it would be incorrect; it should be reserved for historical discussions.

Write 絘

絘

Practice writing 絘 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 絘

Words Containing This Character1
絘cìancient tax in the form of bales of cloth
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 絘 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 絘

No, 絘 is an archaic term and is rarely used in modern Chinese language.

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