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线条 (xiàn tiáo) — line (in drawing, calligraphy, etc.); lines or contours (of a three-dimensional object, e.g. hair, clothing, car)

Definition

Refers to the visual lines or contours of something — a drawn line, or the outline/silhouette of a shape, hairstyle, or garment. Pairs with art terms like 书法 for stroke-like line work, while 服装/穿着 concern the clothes themselves, not their lines.

noun
line (in drawing, calligraphy, etc.)lines or contours (of a three-dimensional object, e.g. hair, clothing, car)
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 线条。
    Zhè zuò diāo sù de xiàn tiáo fēi cháng yōu měi.
    The lines of this sculpture are very graceful.
  • 线条。
    Tā de xīn fà xíng xiàn tiáo hěn liú chàng.
    The lines of her new hairstyle are very smooth.
  • 线条。
    Zhè zhāng jiàn zhù cǎo tú zhǐ yòng le jǐ bǐ xiàn tiáo.
    This architectural sketch uses only a few lines.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

线xiànline
条tiáostrip

线 (line) and 条 (strip) together refer to visible lines or contours.

Characters in this word

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

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 條; 条 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
攸
攸yōu條tiáo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 條 pairs 木, a small branch or stick, with 攸, which shows a person warned by a hand holding a stick, as a sound part; 条 is a later shortened shape.

Open 条 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Art & Fine ArtsShapes

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