纤 (xiān) - fine, delicate & slender

纤Tone 1

xiān ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 纟

万响

纤 · xiān

fine, delicate;

slender;

tiny fibers;

also read qiàn for a rope for towing boats

fine, delicateslendertiny fibers

Usage highlights

fiberslender fingersdelicate and finefiber opticspull a boat with a ropedelicate beauty

Synonyms

  • 细— thin, fine
  • 微— tiny, minute
  • 柔— soft, gentle

Antonyms

  • 粗— thick, coarse
  • 壮— sturdy, robust
  • 巨— huge, gigantic

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The fabric is made of fine fibers (纤维).
  • She has slender fingers (纤纤玉手).
  • This is a delicate work of art (纤巧的艺术品).
  • They use a towline to pull the boat (拉纤).

Collocations

  • fiber(纤维)
  • slender fingers(纤手)
  • delicate and fine(纤细)
  • fiber optics(光纤)
  • pull a boat with a rope(拉纤)
  • delicate beauty(纤美)

Idioms

  • Tenuous and delicate(纤毫毕现)
  • As slender as a thread(纤如发丝)
  • Tiny and detailed(纤悉无遗)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to fine silk threads, representing delicacy and refinement in traditional Chinese aesthetics.
  • In modern usage, commonly appears in scientific terms like 纤维 (fiber) and 光纤 (fiber optics).
  • The alternate reading qiàn relates to historical transportation methods using towlines along rivers.

FAQ