How to Write 纶 (lún) — Meaning “silk thread; synthetic fiber”

Imagine the left side 纟 as a spool of silk thread, and the right side 仑 looks like a spinning wheel with a small hook. Together they create synthetic fiber by spinning thread around the wheel.

Write the left radical 纟 with three strokes: first two are diagonal folds, the last is a rising stroke. The right side 仑 has four strokes: a left-falling and right-falling stroke on top, then a vertical curve with a hook, and a short left-falling stroke at the bottom. Keep the right side narrow so the whole character stays balanced.

纶 (lún) means silk thread or synthetic fiber and is used in words like 涤纶 (polyester). 纠 (jiū) means to correct or gather, with a right side 丩 that looks like twisted rope. 纡 (yū) means circuitous or winding, with the right side 于. The phonetic components 仑, 丩, and 于 are visually distinct and give different pronunciations and meanings.

纶 is most commonly found in the names of synthetic fibers such as 涤纶 (polyester) and 锦纶 (nylon). It also appears in the classical phrase 垂纶 (to fish with a line), which is a literary way to describe angling. Outside of textile terms, it is rarely used in everyday conversation.

Common words containing 纶 include: 涤纶 (dí lún) — polyester; 锦纶 (jǐn lún) — Nylon; 垂纶 (chuí lún) — to fish with a line.