Definitions

(noun) cotton wadding; padding
(adjective) long-winded; rambling

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "絮" integrates the semantic component "糸", related to silk or thread, with the phonetic component "如" to form a phono-semantic compound. It originally denoted silk floss or wadding used for insulation in clothing. Over time, its meaning expanded to encompass other fibrous materials like cotton wool, while also developing verbal senses such as to pad or to line with stuffing. Figuratively, it evolved to describe incessant or nagging speech, likely through association with the tangled, persistent quality of loose fibers.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

随风飞舞。

Liǔ xù suí fēng fēi wǔ.

Willow catkins dance with the wind.

这件被子填满了棉

Zhè jiàn bèi zi tián mǎn le mián xù.

This quilt is filled with cotton batting.

奶奶总是叨个不停。

Nǎi nai zǒng shì xù dāo gè bù tíng.

Grandma always chatters non-stop.

夜晚的语让人宁静。

Yè wǎn de xù yǔ ràng rén níng jìng.

The murmurs of the night bring peace.

他的演讲太烦了。

Tā de yǎn jiǎng tài xù fán le.

His speech is too tedious.

空中飘满了白色的柳

Kōng zhōng piāo mǎn le bái sè de liǔ xù.

The air is filled with white willow catkins.

叨叨地说着往事。

Tā xù xù dāo dāo de shuō zhe wǎng shì.

She chattered on and on about past events.

的质感使得衣物更加舒适。

Mián xù de zhì gǎn shǐ de yī wù gèng jiā shū shì.

The texture of cotton batting makes clothes more comfortable.