绸 (chóu) - silk fabric & silk cloth

绸Tone 2

chóu ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

绸 · chóu

silk fabric;

silk cloth;

a fine, soft textile material made from silk fibers.

silk fabricsilk clotha fine, soft textile material made from silk

Usage highlights

silk fabricsilksilk clothsilk blendsatin silksilk merchant

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 麻— linen (coarser fabric)
  • 布— cloth (generic, often cotton)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She wore a dress made of silk (绸缎).
  • The scarf is smooth like silk (丝绸).
  • They produce high-quality silk fabrics (绸子).
  • This is a silk blend material (绸布).

Collocations

  • silk fabric(绸缎)
  • silk(丝绸)
  • silk cloth(绸子)
  • silk blend(绸布)
  • satin silk(缎绸)
  • silk merchant(绸商)

Idioms

  • Ties of intimate friendship(绸缪之情)
  • To make preparations in advance(未雨绸缪)
  • Densely packed(绸密)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Silk has been a highly valued commodity in China for thousands of years, famously traded along the Silk Road.
  • Silk production (sericulture) originated in ancient China and was a closely guarded secret for centuries.
  • Silk fabrics were historically associated with luxury, wealth, and high social status.

FAQ