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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) T2
  1. 1thin silk, damask silk
  2. 2damask
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 绫

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

Podcast: 绫

JasonAmy

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 绫

  1. 1The meaning half纟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half夌 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 绫? 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 绫?

Decomposition of 绫

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

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component 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.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 绫

Words Containing This Character1
绫língdamask綾
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 绫 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 绫

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

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 绫?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.