(shā) — cotton yarn; muslin (a lightweight cotton fabric)

Definition

纱 (shā) covers both the raw thread (cotton yarn) and the light, semi-sheer cloth woven from it (muslin, gauze). At HSK 7 it most often appears in literary or textile contexts.

noun
cotton yarnmuslin (a lightweight cotton fabric)

Examples

  • Tā yòng shā zhī le yì tiáo wéi jīn.
    She used yarn to knit a scarf.
  • Zhè zhǒng shā shì hé zuò xià tiān de yī fu.
    This muslin is suitable for making summer clothes.
  • Zhè kuài shā shì chún mián de, shǒu gǎn hěn hǎo.
    This piece of muslin is pure cotton and feels very nice.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 紗; 纱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
shāshā
Same sound today

The traditional form 紗 uses 糸 to mark a thread-related meaning and 沙 for the sound. The modern simplified 纱 is a shortened form.

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