綾
design, figured cloth, twill
Readings
On'yomi
- リン
Kun'yomi
- あや
Nanori
- りょう
Meaning
綾 centers on patterned woven fabric: a design worked into cloth, especially the diagonal lines of twill weave. The idea of figured cloth extends naturally to any decorative textile design.
Most common words using 綾
- 綾あや
figure; design
- 綾取りあやとり
cat's cradle
- 綾織りあやおり
twill (fabric)
- 亀綾かめあや
high-quality glossy white habutai silk
- 紗綾形さやがた
sayagata (pattern of interlocking swastikas)
- 綾をなしてあやをなして
in beautiful patterns
- 綾布あやぬの
twill damask and brocade
- 綾戻しあやもどし
technical rally; retracement
- 綾杉状あやすぎじょう
zigzag, dogtooth pattern
- 綾竹あやだけ
lease rod (in a loom)
- 綾糸あやいと
colored thread; coloured thread; thread of cat's cradle; heddle thread
- 綾絹あやぎぬ
twilled silk fabric
- 綾綺殿りょうきでん
pavilion housing the emperor's bathing quarters and dressing chamber (in Heian Palace)
- 綾織物あやおりもの
figured cloth; twill fabric
- 綾羅りょうら
elaborated cloth; figured silk and thin silk
- 綾藺笠あやいがさ
type of traditional Japanese conical hat
- 綾錦あやにしき
twill damask and brocade
- 透綾すきや
thin silk material
Study
Etymology
綾 combines 糸 (thread, textile) with 夌, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to the idea of crossing or layering, fitting the twill pattern. The exact origin of 夌 is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 糸 is thread, and the right side 夌 looks like a complex crossing pattern. Picture threads crossing diagonally to create a figured cloth design.
Reading mnemonic
For リン, imagine a linen cloth woven with a twill pattern: linen -> リン, and the threads create the design.