Definitions

féng (verb) to sew; to stitch
fèng (noun) seam; crack; narrow slit

Etymology phono-semantic

thread

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "缝", whose traditional form is "縫", is structured as a phono-semantic compound with the semantic component "糸" (simplified to "纟") indicating thread and the phonetic component "逢" providing its sound. Its original meaning centered on the action of sewing or stitching, which naturally extended to denote the resultant seam or join. This core sense later broadened to refer to any narrow opening or crack, analogously derived from the concept of a stitched line. The character's composition has consistently maintained these elements, linking it to thread-related functions while its phonetic marker has guided pronunciation throughout its historical use.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈在衣服。

Māma zài féng yīfu.

Mom is sewing clothes.

墙上有一条

Qiáng shàng yǒu yī tiáo fèng.

There is a crack on the wall.

她用针线扣子。

Tā yòng zhēn xiàn féng kòuzi.

She uses needle and thread to sew buttons.

仔细地制这件旗袍。

Cáifeng zǐxì de féngzhì zhè jiàn qípáo.

The tailor carefully sews this cheongsam.

从门里透进来一丝光亮。

Cóng mén fèng lǐ tòu jìnlái yī sī guāngliàng.

A ray of light shines through the crack in the door.

工程师需要修补混凝土的裂

Gōngchéngshī xūyào xiūbǔ hùnníngtǔ de lièfèng.

The engineer needs to repair the cracks in the concrete.

完了衣服,却发现得不太平整。

Tā féng wánle yīfu, què fāxiàn féng de bù tài píngzhěng.

She finished sewing the clothes, but found that the stitching was not very smooth.

在显微外科手术中,医生用细线合神经纤维。

Zài xiǎnwēi wàikē shǒushù zhōng, yīshēng yòng xì xiàn fénghé shénjīng xiānwéi.

In microsurgery, doctors use fine thread to suture nerve fibers.