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缬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
缬xiéknot; to tie a knotg, 15 strokes, radical 纟, rank #45802, Very Hard
缬xiétie a knotunknown, 15 strokes, radical 纟, rank #45802, Very Hard
xié(xie2)xie T2
  1. 1knot; to tie a knot
  2. 2tie a knot
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March 24, 2026

缬(纈)xié(xie2)

The character 缬 (xié) primarily means 'to tie a knot' or 'knot.' It is often used in contexts related to tying things together, whether physically or metaphorically, such as forming connections or bonds between people. The nuance suggests a careful or deliberate action of tying, emphasizing the importance of the knot's strength.

Strokes15Radical纟Frequency#45802DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, knots often symbolize unity and connection, particularly in marriage ceremonies where decorative knots are used to signify the bond between partners. The character 缬 embodies this cultural significance.

Memory tip

Imagine a strong rope with a beautiful knot at the end, representing the character 缬. The top part (纟) looks like threads or strings, while the bottom (夾) resembles two hands tying them together. Picture a craftsman carefully tying a knot to symbolize connection, reinforcing the pronunciation 'xié.'

Meanings of 缬

xié(xie2)
1knot; to tie a knot
2tie a knot
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 缬 means.

About 缬

缬Simplified
纈Traditional
15Strokes
纟Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 缬

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Podcast: 缬

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AI Study Notes for 缬

Usage Notes

缬 is generally used in more formal or literary contexts, so it may not be suitable for everyday conversation. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words, so learners should pay attention to pronunciation. Common collocations include phrases related to tying or binding, such as 缬绳 (knot rope).

HSK Study Tips

Although 缬 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it relates closely to other words involving actions and physical objects, such as 绑 (bǎng) which means 'to tie.' Focus on understanding the context of binding actions in both literal and metaphorical senses as part of vocabulary building.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 缬 with the character 结 (jié), which also relates to knots but is more commonly used. For example, saying '我会缬一个结' should be corrected to '我会结一个结' for natural expression.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 缬

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Etymology of 缬

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

thread

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

Origin

缬 = 纟 + 颉. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 缬

IDS Structure⿰纟颉
缬Full character
=
纟si1
left
颉jie2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 缬?

How to say knot; to tie a knot in Chinese

“knot; to tie a knot” in Chinese is缬xié

The character 缬 (xié) primarily means 'to tie a knot' or 'knot.' It is often used in contexts related to tying things together, whether physically or metaphorically, such as forming connections or bonds between people. The nuance suggests a careful or deliberate action of tying, emphasizing the importance of the knot's strength.

When to use 缬

缬 is generally used in more formal or literary contexts, so it may not be suitable for everyday conversation. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words, so learners should pay attention to pronunciation. Common collocations include phrases related to tying or binding, such as 缬绳 (knot rope).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 缬 with the character 结 (jié), which also relates to knots but is more commonly used. For example, saying '我会缬一个结' should be corrected to '我会结一个结' for natural expression.

Write 缬

缬

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

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Grammar Patterns of 缬

缬 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

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

植树细胞中丙氨酸和亮氨酸 、 ____氨酸的主要前体是丙酮酸.

In plant cells the principal precursor of alanine , as well as leucine and valine, is pyruvate.

Example Sentences for 缬 (1)

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1
植树细胞中丙氨酸和亮氨酸 、 缬氨酸的主要前体是丙酮酸.

zhí shù xì bāo zhōng bǐng ān suān hé liàng ān suān、 、 xié ān suān de zhǔ yào qián tǐ shì bǐng tóng.

In plant cells the principal precursor of alanine , as well as leucine and valine, is pyruvate.

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Word Family of 缬

Words containing this character2
缬xiéknot纈
缬氨酸valine (Val), an essential amino acid纈氨酸
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 缬

What does 缬氨酸 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 缬

It is pronounced as 'xié'.

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