綿 (mián) - Cotton — refers to cotton fabric or material & soft, continuous, and fine like cotton fibers

綿Tone 2

mián ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

綿 · mián

Cotton — refers to cotton fabric or material;

soft, continuous, and fine like cotton fibers;

extended meanings include continuous, unbroken, soft, and weak.

Cotton — refers to cotton fabric or materialsoft, continuous, and fine like cotton fibersextended meanings include continuous, unbroken, soft, and weak.

Usage highlights

Cotton fabricCotton threadContinuous and unbrokenSoft and weakSilk flossCotton

Synonyms

  • 棉— Cotton (more common for cotton material)
  • 软— Soft
  • 柔— Gentle, soft

Antonyms

  • 硬— Hard
  • 刚— Firm, rigid
  • 断— Broken, discontinuous

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Cotton fabric is soft and comfortable (棉布).
  • The mountain range stretches continuously (绵延的山脉).
  • She has a gentle and soft personality (性格绵软).
  • This thread is very fine (绵线).

Collocations

  • Cotton fabric(棉布)
  • Cotton thread(绵线)
  • Continuous and unbroken(绵延)
  • Soft and weak(绵软)
  • Silk floss(丝绵)
  • Cotton-padded clothes(绵衣)

Idioms

  • Continuous without end(绵延不绝)
  • As soft as cotton(绵软无力)
  • Fine and meticulous(绵密细致)
  • Long and unbroken(绵长不断)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with silk floss and cotton, representing softness, continuity, and fine quality.
  • In Chinese culture, '绵' often symbolizes endurance and unbroken continuity, as in family lines or mountain ranges.
  • Used in poetry and literature to describe gentle, persistent qualities.

FAQ