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纟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
纟sīsilk; threadzg, 3 strokes, radical 纟
sī(si1) T1
  1. 1silk; thread
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

纟sī(si1)

The character 纟 (sī) represents silk or thread, often used as a radical in other characters related to textiles. It is commonly found in words describing cloth, sewing, or materials that are made from silk. In modern usage, it can also refer to the broader category of fabrics and textiles.

Strokes3Radical纟
Cultural Note

Silk is a significant part of Chinese culture, dating back thousands of years to the Silk Road, where it was a key trade commodity. The production and weaving of silk have deep historical roots in China, symbolizing luxury and refinement.

Memory Tip

Imagine a delicate thread of silk flowing gracefully through the air, resembling the flowing form of the character 纟. The top part looks like a wisp of silk, evoking the softness and elegance associated with this material.

Meanings of 纟

sī(si1)
1silk; thread
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 纟

纟Simplified
3Strokes
纟Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 纟

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Podcast: 纟

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 纟

Usage Notes

When using 纟 in compounds, ensure that the context relates to textiles or fabric. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar characters that pertain to other materials. Note that in conversation, it’s more common to use complete words rather than the radical alone.

HSK Study Tips

While 纟 itself does not appear on the HSK lists, it forms part of words that do, such as 丝 (sī - silk) and 织 (zhī - to weave). Focus on recognizing it as a radical to help with understanding more complex characters at this level.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 纟 as a standalone word instead of recognizing it as a radical. For example, saying '我喜欢纟' (I like silk) is incorrect; the correct form is '我喜欢丝'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 纟

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Etymology of 纟

Formation TypePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

纟 is a component form of 糸.

Memory Hint

A twisted strand of silk; see 糸

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 纟

纟 is a component form of 糸.

  1. 1The giveawayA twisted strand of silk; see 糸
  2. 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.

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

Want the full history of 纟? 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 纟?

Decomposition of 纟

IDS Structure⿱?一
纟Full Character
=
一yi1
top
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 纟?

How to say silk; thread in Chinese

“silk; thread” in Chinese is纟sī

The character 纟 (sī) represents silk or thread, often used as a radical in other characters related to textiles. It is commonly found in words describing cloth, sewing, or materials that are made from silk. In modern usage, it can also refer to the broader category of fabrics and textiles.

When to use 纟

When using 纟 in compounds, ensure that the context relates to textiles or fabric. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar characters that pertain to other materials. Note that in conversation, it’s more common to use complete words rather than the radical alone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 纟 as a standalone word instead of recognizing it as a radical. For example, saying '我喜欢纟' (I like silk) is incorrect; the correct form is '我喜欢丝'.

Write 纟

纟

Practice writing 纟 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 纟

Words Containing This Character1
纟sīsilk
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 纟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 纟

纟 is a radical that indicates a relation to silk or thread, while 丝 is a complete character meaning 'silk'.

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