绺 (liǔ) — (classifier) for a tuft, lock, or skein (of hair, thread, grass, etc.)
Definition
A measure word (classifier) for a thin strand or tuft — a lock of hair, a skein of thread, a wisp of grass. Always used with 一: 一绺.
classifier
for a tuftlockor skein (of hair, thread, grass, etc.)
Easily confused
Examples
- 绺。Tā tóu shàng yǒu yì liǔ bái tóu fa.She has a lock of white hair on her head.
- 绺。Tā bǎ nà liǔ sī xiàn rào zài shǒu zhǐ shàng.He wound that skein of silk thread around his finger.
- 绺。Fēng chuī qǐ le yì liǔ tóu fa.The wind lifted a lock of hair.
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 綹; 绺 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
咎
咎jiù綹liǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
In the traditional form 綹, 糸 (silk) shows the silk-related meaning, and 咎 gives the sound; the simplified 绺 is a later abbreviation.
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