缕 meaning and stroke order
Strand; thread; detailed
How to write 缕, 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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- 12
Meaning of 缕
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- strand
- thread
- detailed
- in detail
- classifier for wisps (of smoke, mist or vapor), strands, locks (of hair)
How 缕 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Thread.
纟 gives the meaning and 娄 hints at the sound.
Radical: 纟 (silk), shared by 143 characters on this site.
How to remember 缕
缕 (lǚ) has the silk radical 纟 on the left for thread, and 娄 (lóu) on the right giving the sound. Picture a single silk thread, thin as a wisp, which is why 缕 counts strands of hair and wisps of smoke.
Today 缕 is most common as a literary classifier for thin, floating things like smoke, light, hair or feelings. It also appears in set phrases such as 一丝一缕 (yī sī yī lǚ, every single thread) and 千丝万缕 (qiān sī wàn lǚ, countless ties). Example: 一缕阳光照进房间。(Yì lǚ yángguāng zhào jìn fángjiān.) A ray of sunlight shines into the room.
Common mistake: Learners often read 缕 as lóu or lòu because of 娄 and 楼 (lóu), but it is third tone lǚ with ü, like 旅 (lǚ). Also do not confuse it with 楼 (lóu, building), which has the wood radical 木 instead of 纟.
Questions about 缕
How many strokes are in 缕?
缕 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 缕 mean?
缕 (lǚ) means strand; thread; detailed.
How do you pronounce 缕?
缕 is pronounced lǚ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 缕?
The radical of 缕 is 纟, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 缕 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 缕?
The traditional form of 缕 is 縷. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 缕 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 缕 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 缕 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 一缕 and 一丝?
Both describe something thin, but 丝 (sī) stresses tiny amount, as in 一丝希望 (a glimmer of hope). 缕 suggests a strand or wisp with some length and movement, such as 一缕青烟 (a wisp of smoke) or 一缕头发 (a lock of hair).
How is 缕 used to mean detailed?
This sense survives mainly in 条分缕析 (tiáo fēn lǚ xī), meaning to analyze point by point in careful detail. It is formal and written, so you will rarely hear 缕 alone with this meaning in speech.