緇 (zī) - Black silk & dark-colored, especially referring to black or deep purple

緇Tone 1

zī ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

志

緇 · zī

Black silk;

dark-colored, especially referring to black or deep purple Buddhist monastic robes.

Black silkdark-colored, especially referring to black or deep purple

Usage highlights

Black robesBuddhist monastic robesBuddhist clergyTo become a monk/nunBlack and whiteBlack and yellow

Synonyms

  • 黑— black (general term)
  • 玄— dark black, profound black
  • 烏— crow-black, dark

Antonyms

  • 白— white
  • 素— plain, undyed silk; white

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The monk wore black robes (緇衣).
  • They left secular life to become a monk (披緇).
  • The ancient text mentions black garments (緇服).
  • A term for Buddhist clergy (緇流).

Collocations

  • Black robes(緇衣)
  • Buddhist monastic robes(緇服)
  • Buddhist clergy(緇流)
  • To become a monk/nun(披緇)
  • Black and white(緇白)
  • Black and yellow(緇黃)

Idioms

  • Not distinguishing black from white(不辨緇白)
  • Once a silkworm is in the zī, it cannot get out(一入緇門，永不出離)
  • The black robe does not change its color(緇衣不改)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, 'zī' specifically referred to black silk, a color associated with depth and solemnity.
  • In Buddhism, 'zī' became strongly associated with the black robes of monks and nuns, symbolizing renunciation and simplicity.
  • The term 'zīliú' (緇流) is a classical collective term for the Buddhist monastic community.

FAQ