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絻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
絻miǎnmourning veilx, 13 strokes, radical 糹
絻miǎn(old) mourning apparelunknown, 13 strokes, radical 糹
絻miǎnold variant of 冕[mian3]unknown, 13 strokes, radical 糹
絻wènmourning veilx, 13 strokes, radical 糹
絻wèn(old) mourning apparelunknown, 13 strokes, radical 糹
絻wènold variant of 冕[mian3]unknown, 13 strokes, radical 糹
miǎn(mian3)
primary
T3
  1. 1mourning veil
  2. 2(old) mourning apparel
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

絻miǎn(mian3)

The character 絻 (miǎn) refers to a traditional mourning veil or apparel used in Chinese culture, particularly in historical contexts. It represents a form of respect and mourning for the deceased, often associated with specific funeral rites or ceremonies. The usage of this character is largely historical and may not be common in modern conversations.

Strokes13Radical糹
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the use of mourning veils such as 絻 was a significant part of funeral customs, reflecting deep respect for ancestors. These veils were worn during mourning periods to signify the loss and the somber nature of the occasion.

Memory Tip

Imagine a delicate veil made of silk that drapes over a person's face, symbolizing sorrow and respect. The character 絻 has the radical 糸, which means 'silk,' reminding you of the fabric of the mourning veil, while the pronunciation 'miǎn' can be linked to 'mourn,' sounding similar and evoking the somber context.

Meanings of 絻

miǎn(mian3)
primary
1mourning veil
2(old) mourning apparel
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 絻

絻Simplified
13Strokes
糹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 絻

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Podcast: 絻

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AI Study Notes for 絻

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday language today, so it's important to understand its historical significance rather than its practical application. Learners should avoid confusing it with contemporary terms for mourning or funeral attire, which may use different words. Pay attention to the tone; 'miǎn' has a third tone, which can be tricky for non-native speakers.

HSK Study Tips

As a character not included in the HSK levels, students are encouraged to focus on its historical context and relation to traditional mourning practices. This character can be compared with other mourning-related terms they might learn at this or higher levels, such as 哀 (āi, sorrow) or 丧 (sàng, to mourn).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 絻 with more commonly used terms for mourning, such as 丧. For example, saying '我穿了絻去葬礼' ('I wore a mourning veil to the funeral') may not convey the intended meaning due to its archaic usage; instead, using '我穿了黑色衣服去葬礼' ('I wore black clothes to the funeral') would be more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 絻

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Etymology of 絻

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

silk

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 絻

  1. 1The meaning half糹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half免 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 絻? 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 絻?

Decomposition of 絻

IDS Structure⿰糹免
絻Full Character
=
糹si1
left
免mian3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 絻?

How to say mourning veil in Chinese

“mourning veil” in Chinese is絻miǎn

The character 絻 (miǎn) refers to a traditional mourning veil or apparel used in Chinese culture, particularly in historical contexts. It represents a form of respect and mourning for the deceased, often associated with specific funeral rites or ceremonies. The usage of this character is largely historical and may not be common in modern conversations.

When to use 絻

This character is rarely used in everyday language today, so it's important to understand its historical significance rather than its practical application. Learners should avoid confusing it with contemporary terms for mourning or funeral attire, which may use different words. Pay attention to the tone; 'miǎn' has a third tone, which can be tricky for non-native speakers.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 絻 with more commonly used terms for mourning, such as 丧. For example, saying '我穿了絻去葬礼' ('I wore a mourning veil to the funeral') may not convey the intended meaning due to its archaic usage; instead, using '我穿了黑色衣服去葬礼' ('I wore black clothes to the funeral') would be more appropriate.

Write 絻

絻

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 絻

No, 絻 is considered an archaic term and is not commonly used in contemporary language.

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