About
The character 帛, structurally composed of 白 meaning 'white' and 巾 meaning 'cloth,' etymologically originates from its early use to designate white silk or refined fabrics in ancient Chinese society. Its semantic range expanded over time from specifically denoting silk to a more general term for textiles, while also acquiring associative meanings of value and wealth due to the premium status of silk as a luxury good and currency substitute. This shift is evident in historical compounds where 帛 functions as a component indicating material worth, such as in 财帛 for monetary resources or 帛书 for silk-based manuscripts. The character's traditional form has persisted without structural alteration, preserving its initial conceptual blend of cloth and the quality often implied by whiteness, and it remains in contemporary usage largely within literary, historical, or compound lexical contexts.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这块帛很漂亮。
她喜欢帛制的衣服。
博物馆里有古代帛书。
这幅帛画颜色鲜艳。
古代中国常用玉帛作为礼物。
这些帛制品展示了精湛的工艺。
帛与布相比，更加柔软光滑。
由于帛的质地细腻，它常被用于制作高级礼服。