绪

緒

xù

纟 + 者

Definitions

xù (noun) beginning; start

xù (noun) clue; trace

xù (noun) mental state; mood

xù (noun) thread

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 者 represents the sound. Simplified form of 緒.

Semantic: 纟 Phonetic: 者

About

绪, the simplified form of 緒, is a phono-semantic compound: the silk radical 纟 (simplified from 糸) carries the meaning of textiles, while the phonetic component 者 indicates the pronunciation. The original literal meaning is the very end or beginning tip of a silk thread, the crucial point for unraveling a cocoon or a tangled skein. From this physical basis, the meaning metaphorically expanded to a clue, an initial lead in an investigation, or the starting point of a sequence of events. It further evolved to describe abstract psychological states, such as a person's train of thought, mood, or emotional disposition.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的情绪很稳定。

Ta de qingxu hen wending.

His emotions are very stable.

我还没有头绪。

Wo hai mei you touxu.

I still have no clue.

这本书的绪论很有趣。

Zhe ben shu de xulun hen youqu.

The introduction of this book is very interesting.

她的情绪变化很快。

Ta de qingxu bianhua hen kuai.

Her emotions change quickly.

我的思绪很混乱。

Wo de sixu hen hunluan.

My thoughts are very chaotic.

情绪管理是一门重要的技能。

Qingxu guanli shi yi men zhongyao de jineng.

Emotion management is an important skill.

对于这个项目，他毫无头绪。

Duiyu zhege xiangmu, ta hao wu touxu.

Regarding this project, he has no clue at all.

在开始写作之前，他先整理了思绪。

Zai kaishi xiezuo zhiqian, ta xian zhengli le sixu.

Before starting to write, he first organized his thoughts.

Related Characters

Component: 纟

Component: 者

绪