縵 (màn) - Plain silk & unpatterned silk fabric

縵Tone 4

màn ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

縵 · màn

Plain silk;

unpatterned silk fabric;

plain;

unadorned;

simple;

also refers to something without decoration or pattern.

Plain silkunpatterned silk fabricplain

Usage highlights

Plain silkUnadorned silkSilk fabricSimple and plainUnpatterned brocadeSilk curtain

Synonyms

  • 素— plain; white; simple
  • 樸— simple; plain; unadorned
  • 簡— simple; brief; uncomplicated

Antonyms

  • 錦— brocade; patterned silk
  • 繡— embroidered; ornate
  • 華— magnificent; flowery; splendid

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She wore a plain silk dress (縵衣).
  • The pottery had a simple, unadorned surface (素縵 surface).
  • He preferred plain fabrics over patterned ones (無花紋的縵布).
  • The room was decorated in a minimalist style (簡縵風格).

Collocations

  • Plain silk(素縵)
  • Unadorned silk(無紋縵)
  • Silk fabric(縵帛)
  • Simple and plain(簡縵)
  • Unpatterned brocade(縵錦)
  • Silk curtain(縵幕)

Idioms

  • To break through the enemy's encirclement(破縵而出)
  • Plain silk without decoration(素縵無華)
  • Slow and unhurried(縵步而行)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, plain silk (縵) was valued for its simplicity and natural beauty, contrasting with elaborate brocades.
  • The character appears in classical texts describing clothing, furnishings, and artistic aesthetics of understated elegance.
  • It carries connotations of humility, naturalness, and rejection of excessive ornamentation in traditional Chinese aesthetics.

FAQ