How to Write 纱 (shā) — Meaning “yarn; gauze”

Imagine a wedding dress (婚纱) made of very thin, delicate fabric — so thin you can see 'few' (少) threads in it. The silk radical 纟 reminds you it's a textile, and 少 helps you recall its light, airy quality.

Write the left radical 纟 first: three strokes—folded line, folded line, and a vertical line. Then add the right part 少, making sure the small hook on the left component doesn't cross into the right side. The overall shape is left-narrow, right-wide, so keep the left side compact.

纱 means 'gauze' or 'yarn' and focuses on thin, woven fabric. 纠 (jiū) means 'to correct' or 'to twist together' and often appears in words like 纠正 (to correct). 纡 (yū) means 'to bend' or 'circuitous' and is used in formal literary contexts—it has no connection to textiles like 纱 does.

纱 commonly appears in words for fabric items, such as 婚纱 (wedding dress), 纱布 (medical gauze), and 棉纱 (cotton yarn). It is not in HSK, but you will see it in clothing stores, hospitals, or sewing contexts. Culturally, 婚纱 is especially important for weddings, highlighting the fabric's association with elegance and tradition.

Common words containing 纱 include: 婚纱 (hūn shā) — Wedding dress; bridal gown; 纱布 (shā bù) — gauze; cheesecloth; 棉纱 (mián shā) — cotton yarn.