絹きぬ糸いと

き

ぬ

い

と

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

silk thread; silk yarn

Refers to thread or yarn made from silk, used in sewing, weaving, and textiles.

この着き物ものは上じょう質しつな絹きぬ糸いとで織おられています。
This kimono is woven from high-quality silk thread.
絹きぬ糸いとで刺し繍しゅうをすると、光こう沢たくが美うつくしい。
When you embroider with silk thread, the luster is beautiful.

2

corn silk

Only with reading けんし

Agricultural term for the silky styles of corn; read けんし.

トウモロコシの絹けん糸しは受じゅ粉ふんに重じゅう要ような役やく割わりを果はたす。
Corn silk plays an important role in pollination.

See all 28 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉を絹きぬ糸いとで織おるto weave something with silk thread
このスカーフは絹きぬ糸いとで織おられている。
This scarf is woven with silk thread.
絹きぬ糸いとを紡つむぐto spin silk thread
職しょく人にんは蚕かいこの繭まゆから絹きぬ糸いとを紡つむぐ。
The craftsman spins silk thread from silkworm cocoons.
絹きぬ糸いとのような〈物もの〉something as smooth/fine as silk thread
彼かの女じょの髪かみは絹きぬ糸いとのようになめらかだ。
Her hair is as smooth as silk thread.

Kanji

絹silk
糸thread
繭cocoon

Related words

生き糸いと sense 1
生糸 refers specifically to raw, unprocessed silk thread straight from the cocoon, while 絹糸 is the general term for silk thread used in sewing or weaving.
蚕さん糸し
絹糸 is the general word for silk thread used in everyday sewing and textiles, while 蚕糸 is the more technical term emphasizing thread derived directly from silkworm cocoons, often used in industrial or agricultural contexts.

Don't confuse with

絹きぬN4sense 1
絹 refers to the silk material or fabric itself, whereas 絹糸 specifically means the thread or yarn spun from silk.

Counted with

本ほんN5
For long, thin objects (sticks, stems, wires, bottles); also 'pieces' like films, articles, and phone calls.
筋すじN2
筋 is often more natural than 本 for thin, thread-like things like 絹糸 (silk thread).

Built from

絹きぬ+糸いと

Written forms

絹糸Usage82%
- きぬいと
  Standard kanji spelling for silk thread; high-frequency news and spec priority.
- けんし
ケンシUsage9%
繭糸Usage8%
- きぬいと
  Rare kanji spelling emphasizing the cocoon origin; not commonly used.
- けんし
けんし

Etymology

Compound of 絹 (kinu, 'silk') and 糸 (ito, 'thread'). The reading けんし is the on'yomi reading of the same kanji, used in technical agricultural contexts.