紉 meaning and stroke order
To sew, to stitch; to thread a needle
How to write 紉, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 紉
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to thread (a needle)
- (bound form) to sew; to stitch
- (literary) very grateful
How 紉 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To thread 糹 a needle 刃; 刃 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 糹 (silk), shared by 126 characters on this site.
How to remember 紉
On the left is 糹, silk thread. On the right is 刃 (rèn), a sharp blade, which here stands in for the pointed needle and also gives the sound, so 紉 is pushing thread through something sharp.
Today 紉 mostly appears inside words about sewing, such as 缝紉 (féngrèn, to sew) and 缝紉机 (féngrènjī, sewing machine). On its own it can mean to thread a needle, as in 紉针 (rèn zhēn). Example: 奶奶用缝紉机做衣服。(Nǎinai yòng féngrènjī zuò yīfu.) Grandma uses a sewing machine to make clothes.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 紉 with 韧 (rèn, tough, as in 韧性). Both share 刃 and the same sound, but 韧 has the leather radical 韦 and describes toughness, not sewing. Also, 刃 has a small dot on its left side, which is easy to leave off.
Common words with 紉
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
Questions about 紉
How many strokes are in 紉?
紉 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 紉 mean?
紉 (rèn) means to sew, to stitch; to thread a needle. A common word with it is 缝纫 (féngrèn), meaning "to sew".
How do you pronounce 紉?
紉 is pronounced rèn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 紉?
The radical of 紉 is 糹, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 紉 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 紉?
紉 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 纫, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Why does 紉 look different from 纫 in some texts?
纫 is the simplified form used in mainland China, where 糹 is written as 纟. 紉 keeps the full silk radical and is used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. The meaning and pronunciation are the same.
What does 紉 mean in phrases like 感紉?
In literary or formal writing, 紉 can mean deeply grateful, as in 感紉 (gǎnrèn, to feel heartfelt gratitude). This sense is rare in everyday speech and mostly shows up in old-style letters.