线 xiàn — thread; string; wire; line
请沿着这条线剪开。Qǐng yán zhe zhè tiáo xiàn jiǎn kāi.Please cut along this line.
Common words: 路线 (lù xiàn)、线索 (xiàn suǒ)、线路 (xiàn lù)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "thread"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "thread", including 线 (xiàn), 丝 (sī), 绪 (xù). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "thread" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 线 (xiàn), 丝 (sī), 绪 (xù) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span xiàn, sī, xù — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 线 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 线 xiànthread; string; wire; lineUseful words: 路线, 线索
- 丝 sīsilk; thread; traceUseful words: 丝毫, 丝绸
- 绪 xùbeginnings; clues; mental state; threadUseful words: 情绪, 思绪
Common words for these 3 "thread" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 线 (xiàn) — so "thread" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
路线lù xiànitinerary; route; political line (e.g. right revisionist road)线索xiàn suǒtrail; clues; thread (of a story)线路xiàn lù(electricity) line; circuit; wire; (traffic) road丝毫sī háothe slightest amount or degree; a bit丝绸sī chóusilk (cloth)一丝不苟yī sī bù gǒunot one thread loose (idiom); strictly according to the rules; meticulous; not one hair out of place情绪qíng xùmood; state of mind; moodiness思绪sī xùtrain of thought; emotional state; mood; feeling就绪jiù xùto be ready; to be in order
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "thread".
丝 sī — silk; thread; trace
春蚕吐出的丝可以织成绸缎。Chūn cán tǔ chū de sī kě yǐ zhī chéng chóu duàn.The silk spun by silkworms can be woven into satin.
Common words: 丝毫 (sī háo)、丝绸 (sī chóu)、一丝不苟 (yī sī bù gǒu)
绪 xù — beginnings; clues; mental state; thread
他的情绪渐渐平静了下来。Tā de qíng xù jiàn jiàn píng jìng le xià lái.His mood gradually calmed down.
Common words: 情绪 (qíng xù)、思绪 (sī xù)、就绪 (jiù xù)
All 3 characters
Open 线、丝、绪 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.