絲 meaning and stroke order
Silk, fine thread; wire; strings
How to write 絲, stroke by stroke
12 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 絲
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- silk
- thread-like thing; (cuisine) shreds or julienne strips
- classifier: a trace (of smoke etc), a tiny bit etc
How 絲 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Finely-layered 糹silk 糸; 糹 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 糹 (silk), shared by 126 characters on this site.
How to remember 絲
絲 (sī) is simply two silk threads 糸 standing side by side. Picture two fine strands twisted together into one thread of silk.
絲 is the traditional form; in mainland China you will see 丝 in words like 丝绸 (sīchóu, silk cloth) and 螺丝 (luósī, screw). It also means shreds in cooking and works as a measure for a tiny trace of something. Example: 他没有一丝笑容。(Tā méiyǒu yī sī xiàoróng.) He didn't show even a trace of a smile.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse 絲 with 丝's lookalike 經 or with 線 (xiàn, thread), which is a different word for string or line. Also keep the first tone: sī, not sì like 四.
Common words with 絲
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 粉絲 | fěnsī | bean vermicelli; mung bean starch noodles; cellophane noodles; fan; enthusiast for sb or s | HSK 7-9 |
| 絲毫 | sīháo | the slightest amount or degree; a bit | HSK 7-9 |
| 絲綢 | sīchóu | silk (cloth) | HSK 7-9 |
| 螺絲 | luósī | screw | HSK 7-9 |
| 蕾絲 | lěisī | (textiles) (loanword) lace | |
| 鐵絲網 | tiěsīwǎng | wire netting | |
| 絲襪 | sīwà | stockings; pantyhose | |
| 一絲不掛 | yīsībùguà | not wearing one thread (idiom); absolutely naked; without a stitch of clothing | |
| 絲帶 | sīdài | ribbon | |
| 蛛絲馬跡 | zhūsīmǎjì | lit. spider's thread and horse track; tiny hints (of a secret) | |
| 保險絲 | bǎoxiǎnsī | fuse wire; (electrical) fuse | |
| 金絲雀 | jīnsīquè | canary | |
| 鋼絲 | gāngsī | steel wire; tightrope | |
| 白絲 | báisī | white pantyhose; white stockings |
Characters that contain 絲
Learning 絲 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 絲
How many strokes are in 絲?
絲 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 絲 mean?
絲 (sī) means silk, fine thread; wire; strings. A common word with it is 粉丝 (fěnsī), meaning "bean vermicelli; mung bean starch noodles; cellophane noodles; fan; enthusiast for sb or s".
How do you pronounce 絲?
絲 is pronounced sī, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 絲?
The radical of 絲 is 糹, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 絲 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 絲?
絲 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 丝, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Why does 粉丝 mean both noodles and fans?
粉丝 (fěnsī) originally means thin glass noodles made from bean starch. It was later borrowed to sound like the English word fans, so now it also means enthusiasts of a celebrity.
What does 丝 mean on a Chinese menu?
On a menu, 丝 means food cut into thin shreds or julienne strips. For example, 土豆丝 (tǔdòusī) is shredded potato and 肉丝 (ròusī) is shredded meat.