繒 (zēng) - Silk fabric & ancient term for silk textiles

繒Tone 1

zēng ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

悦丈

繒 · zēng

Silk fabric;

ancient term for silk textiles;

also used as a surname.

Silk fabricancient term for silk textilesalso used as a surname.

Usage highlights

Silk fabricAncient silkZeng stateSilk tradeSilk clothingFine silk

Synonyms

  • 絲— silk (general term)
  • 帛— silk fabric (often paired with 繒)

Antonyms

  • 麻— hemp (coarse fabric as opposed to fine silk)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Silk fabric was valuable in ancient China (繒帛).
  • Archaeologists found ancient silk remnants (古繒).
  • The Zeng state was an ancient kingdom (繒國).
  • Silk trade flourished along the Silk Road (繒帛貿易).

Collocations

  • Silk fabric(繒帛)
  • Ancient silk(古繒)
  • Zeng state(繒國)
  • Silk trade(繒帛貿易)
  • Silk clothing(繒衣)
  • Fine silk(細繒)

Idioms

  • Silk and bamboo instruments(繒竹)
  • Silk and hemp fabrics(繒麻)
  • Silk as currency(繒幣)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Zeng was an ancient state during the Zhou dynasty, located in present-day Shandong province.
  • Silk (繒) was a highly valued commodity and status symbol in ancient China.
  • The character appears in historical texts describing trade and luxury goods.

FAQ