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绺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
绺liǔskein; tuft, lock; wrinkleq, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #37995, Very Hard
liǔ(liu3)liu T3
  1. 1skein; tuft, lock; wrinkle
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March 24, 2026

绺(綹)liǔ(liu3)

The character 绺 (liǔ) primarily refers to a skein of thread or yarn, indicating a tangled or twisted arrangement. It can also denote a tuft or lock of hair, emphasizing the idea of something tied together or bundled. This word may be encountered in contexts related to textiles, hair styling, or descriptions of intricate patterns.

Strokes11Radical纟Frequency#37995DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the practice of weaving and creating textiles has deep historical roots, with significant emphasis on craftsmanship. The concept of a 'tuft' or 'skein' often appears in traditional arts, reflecting the beauty of intricate designs in garments.

Memory tip

Imagine a skein of colorful yarn that is tangled in a beautiful knot. The character 绺 looks like the threads weaving around each other, representing the concept of being intertwined. The pronunciation 'liǔ' sounds a bit like 'loop', which can remind you of how yarn loops together.

Meanings of 绺

liǔ(liu3)
1skein; tuft, lock; wrinkle
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 绺

绺Simplified
綹Traditional
11Strokes
纟Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 绺

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Podcast: 绺

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AI Study Notes for 绺

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 绺 with similar characters related to hair or threads, so it's important to focus on context to differentiate them. This term is more commonly used in informal settings or specific discussions about textiles and hair. Be aware that the correct tone is crucial; mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 绺 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it shares a connection with words related to textiles and materials that are relevant for HSK Level 2-3 learners. Students should practice using it in sentences about clothing or hair to grasp its application better.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 绺 with the character for 'hair' (发, fà), leading to incorrect phrases like '她的发有很多绺' instead of the correct '她的头发有许多绺'. Always remember that 绺 specifically refers to locks or skeins.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 绺

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Etymology of 绺

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

A wrinkle 咎 in a silk 纟 garment; 纟 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 绺?

Decomposition of 绺

IDS Structure⿰纟咎
绺Full character
=
纟si1
left
咎jiu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 绺?

How to say skein; tuft, lock; wrinkle in Chinese

“skein; tuft, lock; wrinkle” in Chinese is绺liǔ

The character 绺 (liǔ) primarily refers to a skein of thread or yarn, indicating a tangled or twisted arrangement. It can also denote a tuft or lock of hair, emphasizing the idea of something tied together or bundled. This word may be encountered in contexts related to textiles, hair styling, or descriptions of intricate patterns.

When to use 绺

Learners often confuse 绺 with similar characters related to hair or threads, so it's important to focus on context to differentiate them. This term is more commonly used in informal settings or specific discussions about textiles and hair. Be aware that the correct tone is crucial; mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 绺 with the character for 'hair' (发, fà), leading to incorrect phrases like '她的发有很多绺' instead of the correct '她的头发有许多绺'. Always remember that 绺 specifically refers to locks or skeins.

Write 绺

绺

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

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Grammar Patterns of 绺

绺 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他的额头上垂着一____散开的黑色卷发。

A curl of black hair fell loosely across his forehead.

Example Sentences for 绺 (1)

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1
他的额头上垂着一绺散开的黑色卷发。

tā de é tóu shàng chuí zhe yī liǔ sǎn kāi de hēisè juǎn fā。

A curl of black hair fell loosely across his forehead.

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Word Family of 绺

Words containing this character1
绺liǔskein綹

Frequently Asked Questions about 绺

You can say '她的头发有许多绺', meaning 'Her hair has many locks/tufts'.

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