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縵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
縵mànplain silk; simple, plainx, 17 strokes, radical 糹
màn(man4) T4
  1. 1plain silk; simple, plain
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March 24, 2026

縵màn(man4)

The character 縵 (màn) refers to a type of plain silk fabric, often associated with simplicity and elegance. It can also describe something that is unadorned or basic in nature, conveying a sense of minimalism. This term is commonly used in contexts related to textiles and fashion, as well as in descriptions of lifestyle choices that favor simplicity.

Strokes17Radical糹
Cultural Note

Silk plays a significant role in Chinese culture, particularly in fashion and traditional crafts. The appreciation for plain silk (縵) reflects a broader cultural value placed on simplicity and elegance in aesthetics, often seen in traditional Chinese clothing and art.

Memory Tip

Imagine a smooth, flowing piece of plain silk fabric draping gently over a simple wooden chair. The character 縵 looks like a ribbon flowing down, symbolizing the softness of silk, while the sound 'màn' can remind you of 'man' who appreciates the finer, yet simple things in life.

Meanings of 縵

màn(man4)
1plain silk; simple, plain
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 縵

縵Simplified
17Strokes
糹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 縵

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Podcast: 縵

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AI Study Notes for 縵

Usage Notes

Learners should note that 縵 is not commonly used in everyday conversation and may be more prevalent in literary or specialized contexts. It is important to use the character correctly to avoid confusion with more common terms for silk like '丝' (sī). Pay attention to the pronunciation and ensure you don't confuse it with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

While 縵 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, its components can help learners recognize related textile terms. Focusing on the radical for silk (纟) in this character will aid in understanding and memorizing other silk-related vocabulary. Students should also practice the tones to distinguish this word from others.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 縵 with similar characters like '绵' (mián), which means cotton, due to the resemblance in their radicals. Remember, 縵 specifically denotes plain silk, while '绵' relates to softness and cotton.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 縵

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Etymology of 縵

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

silk

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 縵

  1. 1The meaning half糹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half曼 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 縵? 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 縵?

Decomposition of 縵

IDS Structure⿰糹曼
縵Full Character
=
糹si1
left
曼man4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 縵?

How to say plain silk; simple, plain in Chinese

“plain silk; simple, plain” in Chinese is縵màn

The character 縵 (màn) refers to a type of plain silk fabric, often associated with simplicity and elegance. It can also describe something that is unadorned or basic in nature, conveying a sense of minimalism. This term is commonly used in contexts related to textiles and fashion, as well as in descriptions of lifestyle choices that favor simplicity.

When to use 縵

Learners should note that 縵 is not commonly used in everyday conversation and may be more prevalent in literary or specialized contexts. It is important to use the character correctly to avoid confusion with more common terms for silk like '丝' (sī). Pay attention to the pronunciation and ensure you don't confuse it with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 縵 with similar characters like '绵' (mián), which means cotton, due to the resemblance in their radicals. Remember, 縵 specifically denotes plain silk, while '绵' relates to softness and cotton.

Write 縵

縵

Practice writing 縵 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 縵

Words Containing This Character1
缦mànslow縵
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 缦 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 縵

No, 縵 is more often found in literary contexts or specific discussions about textiles rather than in everyday speech.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 縵?

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