纹 (wén) is a noun that refers to lines, patterns, or grain, such as the grain of wood (木纹), patterns on fabric (花纹), or lines on the skin (皱纹). It can also be used as a verb meaning 'to tattoo', though that usage is less common and may be considered a separate lexical entry. In compounds, 纹 often appears as the second element (e.g., 纹理, 指纹).