锦

錦

jǐn

帛 + 钅

Definitions

jǐn (noun) brocade; embroidered fabric

jǐn (adjective) bright; colorful

Etymology

Silk 帛 inlaid with gold 钅; 钅 also provides the pronunciation

About

锦 (traditional 錦) combines the gold radical 钅 on the left with silk 帛 on the right, vividly suggesting silk inlaid with gold. 钅 also gives the pronunciation: jǐn echoes jīn (gold). The character literally denotes brocade, a luxurious silk fabric woven with intricate, colorful patterns and often gold threads. From this visual splendor, the meaning broadened to describe anything exceptionally beautiful or magnificent, frequently appearing in poetic expressions about radiant landscapes or bright futures.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这条围巾是锦缎做的。

Zhè tiáo wéijīn shì jǐnduàn zuò de.

This scarf is made of brocade.

公园的池塘里有许多锦鲤。

Gōngyuán de chítáng lǐ yǒu xǔduō jǐnlǐ.

There are many koi fish in the park's pond.

她穿着华丽的锦衣。

Tā chuānzhuó huálì de jǐnyī.

She is wearing magnificent brocade clothing.

这座花园繁花似锦。

Zhè zuò huāyuán fánhuāsìjǐn.

This garden is full of flowers like a piece of brocade.

他为公司赢得了荣誉锦旗。

Tā wèi gōngsī yíngdéle róngyù jǐnqí.

He won the honor banner for the company.

这位设计师擅长锦缎面料的应用。

Zhè wèi shèjìshī shàncháng jǐnduàn miànliào de yìngyòng.

This designer is skilled in the application of brocade fabrics.

他的前程被描述为锦绣一般。

Tā de qiánchéng bèi miáoshù wèi jǐnxiù yībān.

His future is described as being splendid like brocade embroidery.

在这锦瑟年华，我们要努力奋斗。

Zài zhè jǐnsè niánhuá, wǒmen yào nǔlì fèndòu.

In these splendid years of youth, we must strive hard.

Related Characters

Component: 帛

Component: 钅

锦