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绨 (tí), traditional form 綈, denotes a type of thick, coarse silk fabric with a glossy finish, historically used for durable robes and outer garments. As a phono-semantic compound, it features the silk radical 纟 (mì), traditional 糸, which places it within the textile domain. This semantic element combines with the phonetic component 弟 (dì), meaning "younger brother", which provides the pronunciation but contributes no familial sense. In classical texts, this fabric is often described as a practical, heavier material suited for cold weather, distinct from finer, decorative silks.
Etymology Hide