刺绣 (cì xiù) — to embroider; embroidery

Definition

刺绣 (cìxiù) is the noun/verb for 'embroidery' as a craft or finished product. 绣 alone is the bare verb 'to embroider' used in the action.

to embroiderembroidery

刺绣。
Tā zhèng zài yòng cǎi xiàn cì xiù yì duǒ mǔ dān huā.
She is embroidering a peony flower with colored threads.
刺绣。
Zhè jiàn yī fu shàng de cì xiù shì shǒu gōng zuò de.
The embroidery on this piece of clothing is handmade.
，刺绣。
Cān guān bó wù guǎn shí, wǒ men kàn dào le yí jiàn táng dài de cì xiù.
When visiting the museum, we saw a Tang Dynasty embroidery.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

绣xiùembroider

刺 and 绣 combine as prick plus embroider, together meaning to embroider or embroidery.

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.

朿刂刺

Meaning part形符xíngfú

刂Written in full as刀dāoknife

Sound part声符shēngfú

朿

朿cì刺cì

Same sound today

刺 pairs 刂 (knife) with 朿, which gives the sound; the knife part fits actions like stabbing or pricking.

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 繡; 绣 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìsilk

Sound part声符shēngfú

肅

肅sù繡xiù

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 绣, the traditional form 繡 pairs 糸, silk, with 肅 to give the sound.

Appears in