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纰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
纰pīcarelessness; error, mistake; spoiled silkn, 7 strokes, radical 纟
pī(pi1)pi T1
  1. 1carelessness; error, mistake; spoiled silk
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March 24, 2026

纰(紕)pī(pi1)

The character 纰 (pī) primarily refers to a mistake or error, often emphasizing carelessness in actions or decisions. It can also denote spoiled silk, linking the concept to textiles and quality. In usage, it often appears in contexts discussing errors or missteps, particularly in formal or literary settings.

Strokes7Radical纟
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, the quality of silk is paramount, and a spoiled silk can symbolize a significant failure, reflecting on both the individual and their craftsmanship. This character embodies the cultural value placed on precision and quality.

Memory tip

Imagine a silk thread that is tangled and frayed, representing carelessness in weaving. The character 纰 resembles a twisted thread, which helps you remember both its form and meaning. Think of 'pī' as a 'pee' in your silk, indicating something has gone wrong.

Meanings of 纰

pī(pi1)
1carelessness; error, mistake; spoiled silk
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 纰

纰Simplified
紕Traditional
7Strokes
纟Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 纰

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Podcast: 纰

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AI Study Notes for 纰

Quick Contrast

错误 (cuòwù) vs 失误 (shīwù) — use 纰 (pī) for a more formal or literary emphasis on carelessness, while 错误 (cuòwù) is more general for mistakes, and 失误 (shīwù) often refers to errors in judgment or execution.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 纰 with similar-sounding characters. It is usually used in more formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include 纰漏 (pīlòu), meaning oversight or omission, which reinforces the idea of an error.

HSK Study Tips

Although 纰 is not included in the HSK levels, it enriches vocabulary related to mistakes and carelessness. When studying words at this level, focus on synonyms and related words such as 错误 (cuòwù) for 'error' to deepen your understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 纰 with 误 (wù), which also means mistake but is more general. For example, saying '我有纰' (wǒ yǒu pī) is incorrect; instead, use '我有错误' (wǒ yǒu cuòwù) for 'I have a mistake.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 纰

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Etymology of 纰

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 比 represents the sound. Simplified form of 紕.

Memory hint

silk

Semantic (meaning)纟
+
Phonetic (sound)比
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

纰 = 纟 + 比. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 纰

IDS Structure⿰纟比
纰Full character
=
纟si1
left
比Bi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 纰?

How to say carelessness; error, mistake; spoiled silk in Chinese

“carelessness; error, mistake; spoiled silk” in Chinese is纰pī

The character 纰 (pī) primarily refers to a mistake or error, often emphasizing carelessness in actions or decisions. It can also denote spoiled silk, linking the concept to textiles and quality. In usage, it often appears in contexts discussing errors or missteps, particularly in formal or literary settings.

When to use 纰

Be careful not to confuse 纰 with similar-sounding characters. It is usually used in more formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include 纰漏 (pīlòu), meaning oversight or omission, which reinforces the idea of an error.

纰 or something close to it

错误 (cuòwù) vs 失误 (shīwù) — use 纰 (pī) for a more formal or literary emphasis on carelessness, while 错误 (cuòwù) is more general for mistakes, and 失误 (shīwù) often refers to errors in judgment or execution.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 纰 with 误 (wù), which also means mistake but is more general. For example, saying '我有纰' (wǒ yǒu pī) is incorrect; instead, use '我有错误' (wǒ yǒu cuòwù) for 'I have a mistake.'

Write 纰

纰

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

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Word Family of 纰

Words containing this character2
纰漏slip-up紕漏
纰pīerror紕
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 纰

What does 纰漏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 纰

It’s not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in formal writing or literature to discuss mistakes.

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