繊
slender, fine, thin kimono
Readings
On'yomi
- セン
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
繊 centers on extreme thinness and delicacy: something slender, fine, or a thin kimono. The idea is of thread-like fineness.
Most common words using 繊
20 of 69- 繊維せんいN1
fibre; fiber
- 繊細せんさいN1
dainty; delicate (e.g. fingers); fine; slim
- 化繊かせんN1
synthetic fiber; synthetic fibre; chemical fiber; chemical fibre
- 筋繊維きんせんい
muscle fiber; muscle fibre
- 繊維状せんいじょう
fibrous; filamentous; fibrillary; fibriform
- 京都工芸繊維大学きょうとこうげいせんいだいがく
Kyoto Institute of Technology
- 合繊ごうせん
synthetic fiber; synthetic fibre
- 合成繊維ごうせいせんい
synthetic fibre; synthetic fiber
- 化学繊維かがくせんい
synthetic fiber; synthetic fibre; chemical fiber; chemical fibre
- 繊維工業せんいこうぎょうN1
textile industry
- アクリル繊維アクリルせんい
acrylic fiber; acrylic fibre
- アセテート繊維アセテートせんい
acetate fiber; acetate fibre
- アラミド繊維アラミドせんい
aramid fibre; aramid fiber
- ガラス繊維ガラスせんい
glass fiber; glass fibre
- トリアセテート繊維トリアセテートせんい
triacetate fiber; triacetate fibre
- ボロン繊維ボロンせんい
boron fiber
- ポリアミド繊維ポリアミドせんい
polyamide fiber; polyamide fibre
- ポリエステル繊維ポリエステルせんい
polyester fiber; polyester fibre
- 中国化繊工業協会ちゅうごくかせんこうぎょうきょうかい
China Chemical Fibers Association; CCFA
- 人造繊維じんぞうせんい
synthetic fiber; synthetic fibre
Study
Etymology
繊 is the modern simplified form of 纖. The older form combines 糸 (thread) with 韱, which likely contributed the sound and the idea of something fine or slender. The modern right side is a simplification of 韱.
Meaning mnemonic
The thread radical 糸 on the left hints at something as thin as a thread. The right side looks like a complex, delicate structure, reinforcing the idea of fineness. Picture a single silk thread so slender it can pass through the eye of a needle.
Reading mnemonic
For セン, imagine a slender thread being sent through the eye of a needle: send -> セン, and the thread is fine and delicate.