Meanings of 線
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About 線
Podcast: 線
Podcast: 線
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AI Study Notes for 線
線 (xiàn) vs 條 (tiáo) — use 線 for lines or threads specifically, while 條 is more general for long, thin objects.
Be careful not to confuse 線 (xiàn) with 線路 (xiàn lù), which means 'route' or 'line' in transportation contexts. This term is more formal, so use it appropriately in writing or discussions about technology and engineering. Remember that the fourth tone can sometimes be mispronounced as a neutral tone.
Since '線' is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, focus on its components, like the radical 糸 (yī), which relates to silk and threads. Connecting it with other HSK words that involve lines or connections can help strengthen your understanding.
Learners often confuse 線 with 線索 (xiàn suǒ), which means 'clue' or 'thread of thought'. For example, saying '我需要一條線索' (wǒ xūyào yītiáo xiàn) is correct for 'I need a clue', but saying '我需要一條線' would incorrectly imply needing a physical line instead.
Pronunciation of 線
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Jason Explains 線 to You
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Learning Lab
Knowing 線 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 線
Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 戋 represents the sound. Simplified form of 線.
thread
Origin
線 = 糹 + 泉. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 線
Parts
Which of these is part of 線?
How to say line, thread, wire; clue, trail in Chinese
“line, thread, wire; clue, trail” in Chinese is線
The character 線 (xiàn) refers to a line, thread, or wire, and can also imply a clue or trail in a metaphorical sense. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical lines, such as in engineering or textiles, as well as in abstract contexts like drawing connections or following clues.
When to use 線
Be careful not to confuse 線 (xiàn) with 線路 (xiàn lù), which means 'route' or 'line' in transportation contexts. This term is more formal, so use it appropriately in writing or discussions about technology and engineering. Remember that the fourth tone can sometimes be mispronounced as a neutral tone.
線 or something close to it
線 (xiàn) vs 條 (tiáo) — use 線 for lines or threads specifically, while 條 is more general for long, thin objects.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 線 with 線索 (xiàn suǒ), which means 'clue' or 'thread of thought'. For example, saying '我需要一條線索' (wǒ xūyào yītiáo xiàn) is correct for 'I need a clue', but saying '我需要一條線' would incorrectly imply needing a physical line instead.
Write 線
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Practice writing 線 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Word Family of 線
Characters with 線
What does 线 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 線
Common phrases include '電線' (diàn xiàn) meaning 'electric wire' and '細線' (xì xiàn) meaning 'fine line'.
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