How to Write 缁 (zī) — Meaning “black (archaic)”

Imagine a black silk robe (纟) that monks wear, and think of the right side 甾 as a "black field"—the farmland at night turns black. So 缁 = silk + blackened field: it means black clothes. This visual link helps you recall the archaic meaning of black.

The left radical 纟 has three strokes: a diagonal turn (called 撇折), then a 撇, and finally a 提 (rising stroke). The right part 甾 has a 田 (field) on top, which should be flat and compact, and a 巛-like bottom (three drooping strokes). A common mistake is making the right side too wide; keep 缁 balanced and narrow overall.

绑 (bǎng) means "to tie" or "bind," and its right side is 邦 (country), so it's about binding things together. 绒 (róng) means "velvet" or "fine hair," with the right side 戎 (military). Unlike these, 缁 refers specifically to the color black in an old or literary sense, and is most often used in Buddhist contexts.

缁 is not common in daily speech; it appears mainly in Buddhist or classical texts. The word 缁衣 means black monastic robes, and 缁门 refers to the Buddhist community (the "black-garbed gate"). You may encounter it in poetry or historical writings to suggest an ancient or religious tone.

Common words containing 缁 include: 缁衣 (zī yī) — black clothes (often referring to monk robes); 缁素 (zī sù) — black and white / monks and laypeople; 缁门 (zī mén) — Buddhist community / Sangha.