About
The character 纰 is a phono-semantic compound, with the silk radical 纟 (sī) on the left indicating its original connection to textiles, and the component 比 (bǐ) on the right providing the sound. Its traditional form is 紕. Initially, it referred to loose fringes or frayed edges on silk garments, or to decorative border trimmings on ceremonial attire. Over time, this concrete image of a loose thread extended metaphorically to mean a mistake, error, or oversight in conduct or work. This abstract sense is now primary, seen in modern words like 纰漏 (pīlòu), which means a careless mistake or flaw.
Etymology Hide
