How to Write 绣 (xiù) — Meaning “To embroider; embroidery”

Imagine a piece of silk (纟) being stitched to 'show off' (sounds like 秀 xiù) a beautiful design. This links the left side with silk and the right side with the idea of beauty or display, helping you remember both the shape and meaning of 绣.

When writing 绣, keep the left radical 纟 narrow and the right part 秀 wider to maintain balance. A common mistake is making the top of 秀 too large or forgetting the small hook at the bottom left of the silk radical. Practice the stroke order: 纟 (2 strokes) then 秀 (8 strokes) for a total of 10 strokes.

Unlike 线 (xiàn, thread) which simply means a thin strand, 绣 specifically means embroidery or to embroider. Compared to 绀 (gàn, dark purple silk), which refers to a color and material, 绣 focuses on the decorative stitching process. Visually, 绣 has 秀 on the right, while 线 uses 戋 and 绀 uses 甘.

绣 appears in words like 刺绣 (embroidery) and 绣花 (to embroider or embroidery work). In Chinese culture, 苏绣 (Suzhou embroidery) is a famous traditional art form recognized as an intangible cultural heritage. You will see this character related to handicrafts, clothing decoration, and regional folk arts.

Common words containing 绣 include: 刺绣 (cì xiù) — embroidery; 绣花 (xiù huā) — To embroider; embroidery; 苏绣 (sū xiù) — Suzhou embroidery.