绣 (xiù) — to embroider
Definition
绣 (xiù) is the verb 'to embroider' — the action itself. Use 刺绣 when you mean embroidery as a craft or a finished embroidered item (noun).
verb
to embroider
Easily confused
Examples
- 绣。Tā zài xiù yì tiáo wéi jīn.She is embroidering a scarf.
- 。Wǒ xǐ huan xiù huā hé niǎo.I like to embroider flowers and birds.
- 绣。Zhè jiàn xiù hǎo de chèn shān hěn piào liang.This embroidered shirt is very beautiful.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
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