How to Write 毵 (sān) — Meaning “long and shaggy hair”

Think of 毛 as a furry head and 参 as three long strands of hair hanging down. The number three (参) reminds you that the hair is long and shaggy, not just a few strands. This visual helps link the shape to the meaning of 'long and shaggy hair'.

Write the top radical 毛 first with its four strokes, making it slightly wide. Then write 参 below, starting with the large 'person' component and finishing with three small strokes at the bottom. A common mistake is making 参 too tall or squeezing the strokes; keep the bottom part compact.

毵 (sān) has 毛 on top and 参 below, meaning shaggy hair. 毪 (mù) has 毛 on the left and 牟 on the right, referring to a woolen fabric. 毫 (háo) has 毛 on top and 高 below, meaning fine hair or a writing brush. The key visual difference is the bottom component: 参 vs 牟 vs 高.

毵 is rarely used alone; it appears in the literary word 毵毵 (sān sān) to describe long, drooping hair or willow branches. You might encounter it in classical poetry or descriptive prose, but not in daily conversation. It has a refined, visual feel, evoking soft, flowing strands.

Common words containing 毵 include: 毵毵 (sān sān) — long and drooping / shaggy; 披毵 (pī sān) — disheveled hair; 毵长 (sān zhǎng) — long and shaggy.