絹

音読おんよみ: ケン

訓読くんよみ: きぬ

画数かくすう: 13 strokes

部首ぶしゅ: 糸(いとへん)

Meaning

Silk / Thread / Fabric

  • 純絹じゅんけん — pure silk
  • 絹糸けんし — silk thread
  • 絹本けんぽん — painting on silk
  • 絹雲けんうん — cirrus clouds (lit. “silk clouds”)
  • 絹巻きぬまき — silk roll, silk wrap
  • きぬ — silk

uses the radical 糸 (thread) combined with the sound component 肙 (en/ken). This phonetic-semantic compound reflects silk as a refined thread. Silk was an essential luxury in historical Japan and China and played a key role in trade and cultural exchange.

この着物きものきぬでできています。
This kimono is made of silk.

絹糸けんしは とてもほそくて つよいです。
Silk thread is very fine and strong.

純
Creates
純絹じゅんけん — pure silk
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