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缦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
缦mànplain silk; simple, plainzg, 14 strokes, radical 纟
缦mànplain thin silkunknown, 14 strokes, radical 纟
缦mànslowunknown, 14 strokes, radical 纟
缦mànunadornedunknown, 14 strokes, radical 纟
màn(man4) T4
  1. 1plain silk; simple, plain
  2. 2plain thin silk
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

缦(縵)màn(man4)

The character 缦 (màn) primarily refers to a type of plain silk or fabric that is simple and unadorned. It can also imply a sense of slowness or being slow-paced, reflecting a tranquil, understated quality in both material and action. This word is often used in literary contexts to describe elegance in simplicity.

Strokes14Radical纟
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the appreciation of silk is profound; it is often associated with elegance and status. The term 缦 reflects a cultural value placed on simplicity and understated beauty, often celebrated in poetry and art.

Memory Tip

Imagine a delicate silk scarf floating slowly in the breeze, representing the character's essence of 'plain silk.' The radical 缶 (fǒu) can remind you of a container, while the character's overall shape suggests something flowing gently, like silk.

Meanings of 缦

màn(man4)
1plain silk; simple, plain
2plain thin silk
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 缦

缦Simplified
縵Traditional
14Strokes
纟Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 缦

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Podcast: 缦

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AI Study Notes for 缦

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 缦 with similar-sounding words that may have different meanings. It is generally used in more formal or poetic contexts, so be mindful of the register when using it. Common collocations include '缦衣' (màn yī) meaning 'plain clothing.'

HSK Study Tips

While 缦 is not an HSK level word, it connects to other fabric-related vocabulary like 布 (bù, cloth) and 纺 (fǎng, to spin). Students should focus on recognizing its use in literary texts and improving their understanding of related terms in the context of textiles.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 缦 with similar-sounding characters like 曼 (màn), which has different meanings related to grace and elegance. Remember, 缦 specifically refers to plain silk or simplicity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 缦

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Etymology of 缦

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

silk

Semantic (meaning)纟
+
Phonetic (sound)曼
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 缦

  1. 1The meaning half纟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half曼 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 缦? 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 缦?

Decomposition of 缦

IDS Structure⿰纟曼
缦Full Character
=
纟si1
left
曼man4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 缦?

How to say plain silk; simple, plain in Chinese

“plain silk; simple, plain” in Chinese is缦màn

The character 缦 (màn) primarily refers to a type of plain silk or fabric that is simple and unadorned. It can also imply a sense of slowness or being slow-paced, reflecting a tranquil, understated quality in both material and action. This word is often used in literary contexts to describe elegance in simplicity.

When to use 缦

Be careful not to confuse 缦 with similar-sounding words that may have different meanings. It is generally used in more formal or poetic contexts, so be mindful of the register when using it. Common collocations include '缦衣' (màn yī) meaning 'plain clothing.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 缦 with similar-sounding characters like 曼 (màn), which has different meanings related to grace and elegance. Remember, 缦 specifically refers to plain silk or simplicity.

Write 缦

缦

Practice writing 缦 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 缦

Words Containing This Character1
缦mànslow縵
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 缦 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 缦

It is rarely used in casual conversation, as it is more common in literary or poetic contexts.

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