髹 (xiū) - To lacquer & to coat with lacquer

髹Tone 1

xiū ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

髹 · xiū

To lacquer;

to coat with lacquer;

to paint with lacquer.

To lacquerto coat with lacquerto paint with lacquer.

Usage highlights

LacquerwareLacquer decorationLacquer coatingRed lacquerBlack lacquerLacquer technique

Synonyms

  • 漆— lacquer; to lacquer
  • 涂— to coat; to paint

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The craftsman lacquered the wooden box (髹漆木盒).
  • This ancient furniture has been beautifully lacquered (髹饰).
  • Traditional Chinese lacquerware requires multiple layers (髹涂).

Collocations

  • Lacquerware(髹漆)
  • Lacquer decoration(髹饰)
  • Lacquer coating(髹涂)
  • Red lacquer(朱髹)
  • Black lacquer(黑髹)
  • Lacquer technique(髹法)

Idioms

  • Exquisitely lacquered and decorated(雕文髹漆)
  • Red lacquer and green paint(丹髹绿饰)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 髹 refers specifically to the traditional Chinese craft of applying lacquer, which dates back to the Neolithic period.
  • Lacquerware was highly valued in ancient China and often associated with luxury and refinement.
  • The character contains the radical 髟 (hair) because lacquer was originally derived from the sap of the lacquer tree.

FAQ