About
The character for paper, 纸, evolved from its traditional form 紙. This traditional character combines the semantic component "糹" (silk), indicating its original material, with the phonetic component "氏", which suggests pronunciation. Historically, the term referred to materials like silk floss before becoming associated with the plant-fiber paper invented in China. The meaning of the character broadened to exclusively denote the manufactured material used for writing, wrapping, and other purposes, with the "silk" radical remaining as a historical vestige of its early composition. The simplified form 纸 replaced the silk radical "糹" with the simpler "纟" while retaining the same phonetic element.
Example Sentences Hide
这是一张白纸。
我用纸折飞机。
报纸上有新闻。
请把纸放进垃圾桶。
这张纸的颜色很漂亮。
我们需要节约用纸保护环境。
在古代，纸是一项重要的发明。
这种特殊纸张可以防水。