How to Write 纫 (rèn) — Meaning “To thread (a needle)”

Imagine a sewing needle with a sharp blade (刃) on its point, and the silk thread (纟) trailing behind it. This visual of a "blade-thread" helps recall that 纫 means to thread a needle.

The left radical 纟 has three strokes (a twisted silk knot), and the right part 刃 must be written with the blade stroke entering the inner area, not crossing out. Many learners accidentally make the right side too wide, but it should be compact to balance the left.

纫 focuses on threading a needle; 纠 (jiū) means to correct or entangle, with a different right side (丩). 纡 (yū) means to bend or twist, with a right side (于) suggesting a curved path. 纫 is unique in combining silk with a blade action.

纫 appears mainly in the words 缝纫 (sewing) and 缝纫机 (sewing machine), common in everyday tasks and tailoring. It is less frequent in casual speech but remains essential for describing the action of threading a needle before sewing.

Common words containing 纫 include: 缝纫 (féng rèn) — to sew; tailoring; 缝纫机 (féng rèn jī) — sewing machine; 纫针 (rèn zhēn) — To thread a needle.