缭Tone 2

liáo ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

缭 · liáo

to wind around;

to entwine;

to coil;

to be tangled;

to sew with slanting stitches

to wind aroundto entwineto coil

Usage highlights

to curl upwardsto sew edgestangled threadswinding pathscoiling cloudsentwining vines

Synonyms

绕— to wind around; to coil
缠— to twine; to entangle
盘— to coil; to wind

Antonyms

直— straight (opposite of winding)
解— to untie; to disentangle

Usage & contexts

Examples

The smoke curled upwards (烟雾缭绕).
She was sewing the hem (缭边).
Vines twined around the tree (藤蔓缭绕).
The mountain paths wind around (山路缭绕).

Collocations

to curl upwards(缭绕)
to sew edges(缭边)
tangled threads(缭乱)
winding paths(缭曲)
coiling clouds(云缭)
entwining vines(藤缭)

Idioms

Confused and disordered(眼花缭乱)
Winding and coiling(缭绕不绝)
Entangled and complicated(纷纭缭乱)

Cultural background

Often used in classical Chinese poetry to describe mist, clouds, or smoke curling and winding in an elegant manner.
In textile arts, refers to a specific sewing technique for finishing edges.
Carries connotations of both physical coiling and mental confusion or complexity.

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