How to Write 丝 (sī) — Meaning “Silk / Thread”

Picture two strands of silk thread lying side by side with a short line tying them together at the top. The bottom part looks like a loosely tied bundle, and the overall shape reminds you of a small skein of silk.

Start with the top left '纟' (three strokes:折折钩, then a vertical stroke), then write the top right '纟' similarly, and finally add the horizontal line at the bottom. A common mistake is making the two thread components too far apart or forgetting the bottom horizontal line, which changes the character entirely.

丝 has two thread-like structures on top and a single horizontal line at the bottom, while 万 (ten thousand) is a single cross shape with a hooked stroke, and 丈 (ten feet) looks like a cross with a longer horizontal stroke. Visually, 丝 is more complex and wider, while 万 and 丈 are simpler and have no repeating components.

You'll see 丝 in words like 丝绸 (sīchóu, silk fabric) and 粉丝 (fěn sī, cellophane noodles or 'fans' of a celebrity). It also appears in the phrase 丝毫 (sīháo) meaning 'the slightest bit,' often used in negative sentences like '没有丝毫改变' (not the slightest change).

Common words containing 丝 include: 丝绸 (sī chóu) — Silk; 粉丝 (fěn sī) — Vermicelli (cellophane noodles); fans (enthusiasts); 丝毫 (sī háo) — The slightest bit / A tiny bit.