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繡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
繡xiùto embroider; embroidery; ornamentx, 19 strokes, radical 糹
xiù(xiu4)xiu T4
  1. 1to embroider; embroidery; ornament
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March 24, 2026

繡xiù(xiu4)

The character 繡 (xiù) means 'to embroider' or refers to 'embroidery' itself. It is commonly used in contexts related to decorative needlework, often seen in traditional Chinese crafts and clothing. The term can also imply ornamentation or beautifying an item through stitching.

Strokes19Radical糹
Cultural Note

Embroidery is a significant part of Chinese culture, with styles like Suzhou embroidery being famous worldwide for their intricacy and beauty. The art form is often linked to historical practices and can symbolize femininity and domestic skills.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beautiful dress adorned with intricate embroidery. The character 繡 looks like needles (the vertical strokes) and thread (the horizontal strokes) weaving together to create something beautiful. Associate 'xiù' with 'sew' to remember its pronunciation.

Meanings of 繡

xiù(xiu4)
1to embroider; embroidery; ornament
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 繡

繡Simplified
19Strokes
糹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 繡

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Podcast: 繡

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AI Study Notes for 繡

Quick Contrast

刺繡 (cìxiù) — use 繡 (xiù) when referring to general embroidery, while 刺繡 (cìxiù) specifically denotes 'embroidery' that involves a needle and thread technique of stitching designs onto fabric.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 繡 (xiù) with other similar-sounding characters, such as 秀 (xiù), which means 'elegant' or 'to show off.' This word can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about traditional arts. Common collocations include '繡花' (xiù huā) meaning 'to embroider flowers'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 繡 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant for students interested in cultural topics or traditional arts. Focus on understanding its usage in phrases related to clothing and decorations, as well as its connection to Chinese craftsmanship.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 繡 (xiù) with 秀 (xiù). For example, saying '我喜欢秀衣服' (I like elegant clothes) instead of '我喜欢繡衣服' (I like embroidered clothes) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 繡

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Etymology of 繡

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 秀 represents the sound. Simplified form of 繡.

Memory Hint

silk

Semantic (meaning)糹
+
Phonetic (sound)肅
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

繡 = 糹 + 肅. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 繡

IDS Structure⿰糹肅
繡Full Character
=
糹si1
left
肅su4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 繡?

How to say to embroider; embroidery; ornament in Chinese

“to embroider; embroidery; ornament” in Chinese is繡xiù

The character 繡 (xiù) means 'to embroider' or refers to 'embroidery' itself. It is commonly used in contexts related to decorative needlework, often seen in traditional Chinese crafts and clothing. The term can also imply ornamentation or beautifying an item through stitching.

When to use 繡

Be careful not to confuse 繡 (xiù) with other similar-sounding characters, such as 秀 (xiù), which means 'elegant' or 'to show off.' This word can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about traditional arts. Common collocations include '繡花' (xiù huā) meaning 'to embroider flowers'.

繡 or something close to it

刺繡 (cìxiù) — use 繡 (xiù) when referring to general embroidery, while 刺繡 (cìxiù) specifically denotes 'embroidery' that involves a needle and thread technique of stitching designs onto fabric.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 繡 (xiù) with 秀 (xiù). For example, saying '我喜欢秀衣服' (I like elegant clothes) instead of '我喜欢繡衣服' (I like embroidered clothes) can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 繡

繡

Practice writing 繡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 繡

Words Containing This Character10
绣xiùto embroider繡
刺绣cìxiùto embroider刺繡
绣花to embroider繡花
锦绣beautiful錦繡
锦绣前程bright future錦繡前程
绣花鞋embroidered shoes繡花鞋
湘绣Hunan embroidery湘繡
花拳绣腿highly embellished and ineffectual花拳繡腿
锦心绣口(of writing) elegant and ornate錦心繡口
刺绣品embroidery刺繡品
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 繡

What does 绣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 繡

The pronunciation is 'xiù', with a falling tone on the 'xiu'.

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