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丝绸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
丝绸sīchóusilk clothHSK 7, n, 16 strokes, rank #10015, Very Hard
丝绸sīchóusilkHSK 7, n, 16 strokes, rank #10015, Very Hard
sīchóu(si1chou2)si chou T1
  1. 1silk cloth
  2. 2silk
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March 24, 2026

丝绸(絲綢)sīchóu(si1chou2)

丝绸 (sīchóu) refers to silk fabric, a luxurious textile known for its smooth texture and sheen. Commonly associated with traditional clothing and high-quality textiles, it is often used in fashion, home décor, and cultural artifacts. The term encapsulates both the material itself and items made from it, highlighting its cultural significance in Chinese heritage.

Strokes16Frequency#10015DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

丝绸 has deep roots in Chinese culture, historically symbolizing wealth and status. The Silk Road, an ancient trade route, was pivotal in the exchange of silk, influencing global commerce and cultural exchanges.

Memory tip

Imagine a shiny, flowing river of silk threading through the air, where '丝' (sī) resembles a thin strand, while '绸' (chóu) looks like a beautifully woven fabric. Picture a tailor crafting exquisite garments from this smooth material, making it unforgettable as you remember the luxurious feel of silk.

Meanings of 丝绸

sīchóu(si1chou2)
1silk cloth
2silk
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 丝绸

丝绸Simplified
絲綢Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#10015Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 丝绸

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Podcast: 丝绸

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AI study notes for 丝绸

Quick Contrast

绸 (chóu) refers to silk fabric in a broader sense and can include various types of silk textiles, while 丝绸 (sīchóu) specifically emphasizes the luxurious quality and traditional aspect of silk.

Usage Notes

When using 丝绸, ensure to pair it correctly with nouns like '衣服' (clothes) or '围巾' (scarf) to describe silk items. Be cautious of the pronunciation; the first syllable '丝' should be pronounced with a high tone. Mixing it with other fabrics can lead to confusion, so use it distinctly for silk.

HSK Study Tips

As part of HSK Level 5, 丝绸 connects with other vocabulary related to textiles and fashion. Focus on understanding how it compares to other materials, such as cotton (棉, mián) and wool (羊毛, yángmáo), to expand your textile vocabulary and comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 丝绸 with other fabrics. For example, saying '棉绸' (miánchóu) for cotton silk is incorrect; instead, use '丝绸' when referring to silk. Additionally, some may mispronounce it, forgetting the tones, which can change the meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 丝绸

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Component characters

丝sīsilk
HSK 75 strokes一
View full entry
绸chóu(light) silk
11 strokes纟
View full entry

How to say silk cloth in Chinese

“silk cloth” in Chinese is丝绸sīchóu

丝绸 (sīchóu) refers to silk fabric, a luxurious textile known for its smooth texture and sheen. Commonly associated with traditional clothing and high-quality textiles, it is often used in fashion, home décor, and cultural artifacts. The term encapsulates both the material itself and items made from it, highlighting its cultural significance in Chinese heritage.

When to use 丝绸

When using 丝绸, ensure to pair it correctly with nouns like '衣服' (clothes) or '围巾' (scarf) to describe silk items. Be cautious of the pronunciation; the first syllable '丝' should be pronounced with a high tone. Mixing it with other fabrics can lead to confusion, so use it distinctly for silk.

丝绸 or something close to it

绸 (chóu) refers to silk fabric in a broader sense and can include various types of silk textiles, while 丝绸 (sīchóu) specifically emphasizes the luxurious quality and traditional aspect of silk.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 丝绸 with other fabrics. For example, saying '棉绸' (miánchóu) for cotton silk is incorrect; instead, use '丝绸' when referring to silk. Additionally, some may mispronounce it, forgetting the tones, which can change the meaning.

Write 丝绸

丝
绸

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

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Grammar patterns of 丝绸

丝绸 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 5

Fill the gap

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

她的____连衣裙是天蓝色的,和她眼睛的颜色一样。

Her silk dress was sky-blue, the colour of her eyes.

Example sentences for 丝绸 (10)

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1
她的丝绸连衣裙是天蓝色的,和她眼睛的颜色一样。

tā de sīchóu lián yī qún shì tiān lánsè de, hé tā yǎnjing de yánsè yíyàng。

Her silk dress was sky-blue, the colour of her eyes.
2
丝绸和羊毛之类的纯天然织物比合成纤维的保暖性更好。

sīchóu hé yángmáo zhīlèi de chún tiānrán zhī wù bǐ héchéng xiānwéi de bǎonuǎn xìng gènghǎo。

Natural fabrics like silk and wool are better insulators than synthetics.
3
德娜买了几卷看起来非常次的丝绸。

dé nà mǎi le jǐ juǎn kànqǐlai fēicháng cì de sīchóu。

Dena bought rolls of silk that seemed ridiculously cheap.
4
丝绸女裙服

sīchóu nǚ qún fú

a gown of gossamer silk
5
他不知从哪里找来了一套黑色的丝绸衣服。

tā bùzhī cóng nǎlǐ zhǎo lái le yī tào hēisè de sīchóu yīfu。

From somewhere, he had unearthed a black silk suit.
6
他穿着一件蓝色丝绸背心和平脚短裤。

tā chuānzhuó yī jiàn lánsè sīchóu bèixīn hépíng jiǎo duǎnkù。

He was wearing a blue silk singlet and boxer shorts.
7
他身着一件米色丝绸衬衫,头戴一顶花格子高尔夫球帽。

tā shēn zhe yī jiàn mǐ sè sīchóu chènshān, tóu dài yī dǐng huā gézi gāoěrfūqiú mào。

He was wearing a cream silk shirt and a tartan golfing cap.
8
她的连衣裙是蓝丝绸的,分量很轻,领口开得非常漂亮。

tā de lián yī qún shì lán sīchóu de, fènliàng hěn qīng, lǐng kǒu kāi de fēicháng piàoliang。

Her dress was of blue silk, quite light, and becomingly open at the neck.
9
它较棉布和尼龙柔软,光泽则与丝绸相仿。

tā jiào mián bù hé nílóng róuruǎn, guāngzé zé yǔ sīchóu Xiāng fǎng。

It is softer than cotton and nylon and has a similar lustre to silk.
10
我们的卧室墙壁是白色,挂着黄色的丝绸窗帘。

wǒmen de wòshì qiángbì shì báisè, guà zhe huángsè de sīchóu chuānglián。

Our bedroom was white-walled with yellow silk curtains.

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Frequently asked questions about 丝绸

Yes, 丝绸 specifically refers to silk fabric, emphasizing its use as a textile.

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