About
The traditional character "綿" is structured with the silk radical (糸) alongside the component "帛", which refers to silk fabric, indicating its original association with silk floss or cotton wadding. Etymologically, this construction points to the properties of soft, continuous fibers, leading to early meanings centered on material softness and extensiveness. Over time, its semantic range broadened to encompass abstract notions such as unbroken continuity, as in "连绵", or delicacy, as in "绵软". The simplified form "绵" retains the right component "帛" while modifying the left radical to "纟", yet the character continues to reference these derived concepts related to fibrous qualities and persistence.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这只绵羊很柔软。
细雨绵绵不断。
山脉绵延千里。
这块布料很绵软。
我愿尽绵薄之力。
他们的友谊绵长持久。
他的思维绵密而严谨。
历史如绵延的河流般悠长。