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绫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
绫língthin silk, damask silkzg, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #23835, Very Hard
绫língdamaskunknown, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #23835, Very Hard
líng(ling2)ling T2
  1. 1thin silk, damask silk
  2. 2damask
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March 24, 2026

绫(綾)líng(ling2)

绫 (líng) refers to a type of fine, thin silk fabric, often characterized by its smooth texture and decorative patterns. It is commonly used in traditional Chinese garments and textiles, and can also denote damask, a fabric with intricate designs. This term is often used in contexts related to fashion, textiles, and cultural heritage.

Strokes11Radical纟Frequency#23835DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

绫 has strong ties to Chinese heritage, as silk production is an ancient art form in China, historically significant in trade routes like the Silk Road. The use of 绫 in traditional clothing reflects the importance of textiles in cultural identity.

Memory tip

Imagine a delicate piece of silk (绫) flowing in the breeze, its smooth texture glistening in the sunlight. The radical 糸 (mì) represents silk, while the character's pronunciation, 'líng,' sounds like 'lingering' silk that captivates your attention.

Meanings of 绫

líng(ling2)
1thin silk, damask silk
2damask
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 绫

绫Simplified
綾Traditional
11Strokes
纟Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 绫

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Podcast: 绫

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AI Study Notes for 绫

Usage Notes

绫 is typically used in more formal contexts, associated with traditional textiles or fashion. Learners might confuse it with similar terms like 丽 (lì), which means beautiful, but it's important to remember that 绫 specifically refers to a type of fabric. Common collocations include 绫罗 (líng luó) for silk gauze.

HSK Study Tips

As an uncommon HSK character, 绫 is not included in the standard levels but could be relevant for learners interested in textiles or cultural studies. Connecting this word to other fabric-related vocabulary can enhance understanding, such as 织 (zhī - to weave) and 布 (bù - cloth).

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 绫 with similar-sounding fabric terms. For example, mistakenly using 绫 (líng) when referring to cotton fabric (棉 - mián) can lead to misunderstandings. Always ensure you are using the correct character for the specific type of material.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 绫

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Etymology of 绫

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

silk

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

Origin

绫 = 纟 + 夌. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 绫

IDS Structure⿰纟夌
绫Full character
=
纟si1
left
夌ling2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 绫?

How to say thin silk, damask silk in Chinese

“thin silk, damask silk” in Chinese is绫líng

绫 (líng) refers to a type of fine, thin silk fabric, often characterized by its smooth texture and decorative patterns. It is commonly used in traditional Chinese garments and textiles, and can also denote damask, a fabric with intricate designs. This term is often used in contexts related to fashion, textiles, and cultural heritage.

When to use 绫

绫 is typically used in more formal contexts, associated with traditional textiles or fashion. Learners might confuse it with similar terms like 丽 (lì), which means beautiful, but it's important to remember that 绫 specifically refers to a type of fabric. Common collocations include 绫罗 (líng luó) for silk gauze.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 绫 with similar-sounding fabric terms. For example, mistakenly using 绫 (líng) when referring to cotton fabric (棉 - mián) can lead to misunderstandings. Always ensure you are using the correct character for the specific type of material.

Write 绫

绫

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

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Word Family of 绫

Words containing this character1
绫língdamask綾

Frequently Asked Questions about 绫

绫 is commonly found in traditional Chinese clothing such as qipaos and hanfu, often used for ceremonial garments.

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