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絛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
絛tāosilk cord; sash, ribbon, cordzg, 13 strokes, radical 糸
tāo(tao1) T1
  1. 1silk cord; sash, ribbon, cord
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

絛tāo(tao1)

The character 絛 (tāo) refers to a silk cord, sash, or ribbon. It is commonly used to describe decorative cords in traditional Chinese clothing or in the making of crafts. This word conveys a sense of elegance and delicacy, often associated with the texture and appearance of silk.

Strokes13Radical糸
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, silk cords are often used in the making of garments and accessories, symbolizing elegance and refinement. They are also used in various ceremonies, highlighting their importance in cultural practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful silk ribbon (絛) flowing gracefully in the wind. The character has the silk radical 絲 (sī) at the top, which hints at its meaning related to silk, while the bottom part resembles the way a cord is tied in a bow, emphasizing its use in sashes and decorative items.

Meanings of 絛

tāo(tao1)
1silk cord; sash, ribbon, cord
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 絛

絛Simplified
13Strokes
糸Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 絛

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Podcast: 絛

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AI Study Notes for 絛

Quick Contrast

绳 (shéng) - use 絛 (tāo) when referring to a decorative silk cord, while 绳 (shéng) refers to a thicker, more utilitarian rope.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 絛 is often used in formal contexts, particularly when discussing traditional clothing or crafts. Common collocations include 絛帶 (tāo dài - silk sash) and 絛繩 (tāo shéng - silk cord). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that may have different meanings.

HSK Study Tips

While 絛 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 3 words related to clothing and textiles. Focus on recognizing the silk radical and related terms to enhance vocabulary around fashion and textiles in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 絛 with 絲 (sī), thinking they mean the same thing. Remember, 絛 specifically refers to silk cords, while 絲 refers to 'silk' itself. Using 絛 to describe a non-silk cord would be incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 絛

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Etymology of 絛

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

silk

Semantic (meaning)糸
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 絛

  1. 1The meaning half糸 carries the sense.
  2. 2The giveawaysilk
  3. 3On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 絛? 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 絛?

Decomposition of 絛

IDS Structure⿰亻⿱夂糸
絛Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
夂zhi3
top
糸mi4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 絛?

How to say silk cord; sash, ribbon, cord in Chinese

“silk cord; sash, ribbon, cord” in Chinese is絛tāo

The character 絛 (tāo) refers to a silk cord, sash, or ribbon. It is commonly used to describe decorative cords in traditional Chinese clothing or in the making of crafts. This word conveys a sense of elegance and delicacy, often associated with the texture and appearance of silk.

When to use 絛

Be mindful that 絛 is often used in formal contexts, particularly when discussing traditional clothing or crafts. Common collocations include 絛帶 (tāo dài - silk sash) and 絛繩 (tāo shéng - silk cord). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that may have different meanings.

絛 or something close to it

绳 (shéng) - use 絛 (tāo) when referring to a decorative silk cord, while 绳 (shéng) refers to a thicker, more utilitarian rope.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 絛 with 絲 (sī), thinking they mean the same thing. Remember, 絛 specifically refers to silk cords, while 絲 refers to 'silk' itself. Using 絛 to describe a non-silk cord would be incorrect.

Write 絛

絛

Practice writing 絛 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 絛

Words Containing This Character2
绦虫tapeworm絛蟲
绦díbraid絛
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 绦虫 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 絛

It is pronounced as 'tāo' with a rising tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 絛?

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