About
绮 (qǐ), in its simplified form and traditional 綺, is a phono-semantic compound. Its left-side semantic radical 纟 (or 糸, mì) indicates the category of silk or fine textiles, while the right-side phonetic element 奇 (qí) contributes the sound and an associative sense of the rare or extraordinary. This structure reflects the character's original meaning: a type of fine, patterned silk fabric used for luxurious garments. From this concrete textile sense, its meaning broadened to function as an adjective describing anything visually splendid, elegant, or gorgeously adorned. This descriptive use is commonly applied to literature, landscapes, or youthful aspirations, as in the word 绮丽 (qǐlì), meaning enchantingly beautiful, illustrating a shift from the tangible beauty of woven silk to more abstract aesthetic qualities.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这件裙子很绮丽。
她的绮梦成真了。
花园里的花朵绮丽夺目。
他穿着绮罗制成的衣服。
那片绮丽的云彩慢慢消散了。
她的笔下流出绮丽的诗句。
尽管现实残酷，她仍怀有绮丽的希望。
在古老的传说中，有一个绮丽而神秘的世界。