丝绸 (sī chóu) — silk

Definition

丝绸 specifically means silk cloth (the woven fabric); 丝 is the broader term for silk thread, filament, or a thread-like trace. Use 丝绸 when talking about the material used for clothing or trade.

noun
silk
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 丝绸。
    Zhè tiáo sī chóu qún zi hěn piào liang.
    This silk skirt is very beautiful.
  • 丝绸。
    Zhōng guó de sī chóu zài shì jiè shàng hěn yǒu míng.
    Chinese silk is very famous worldwide.
  • 丝绸。
    Tā xǐ huan chuān sī chóu zuò de yī fu.
    She likes to wear clothes made of silk.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

丝sīsilk thread
绸chóusilk fabric

丝 refers to silk thread and 绸 to silk fabric, together naming silk cloth.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 絲; 丝 is its simplified writing.

  • 糸糸mì
  • 糸糸mì

In the traditional form 絲, the shape is two 糸 written together; this is about 絲, not the simplified 丝.

Open 丝 →

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 綢; 绸 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
周
周zhōu綢chóu
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 綢, the left part 糸 is silk and the right part 周 is used for the sound; the simplified 绸 is a later shorthand.

Open 绸 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 5Materials & Substances

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