HanziGuru.線 · xiàn
線
xiàn[xian4]Tone 4

thread

HSK 3
View Simplified FormSwitch to Simplified
线
Guru Deep Dive

English · thread

Cached lesson
1 / 1
Topology:Left-right
Strokes:8
Writing Balance Rule: The left radical (纟) should be compressed into the upper-left quadrant, leaving ample space for the right phonetic component (泉) to stretch out gracefully without crowding.
Simplification Logic: The traditional radical 糸 is simplified into the standard three-stroke graph 纟, and the right side maintains its traditional structure 泉.
1. Meaning

thread, string, wire, line

tier (unofficial ranking of a Chinese city, e.g., first-tier city)
NounNeutral#materials#geometry#communication#urban development
Sample Usage
  • 这件衣服的线断了。
    zhè jiàn yīfu de xiàn duàn le.
    The thread of this garment is broken.
  • 上海是一线城市。
    shànghǎi shì yīxiàn chéngshì.
    Shanghai is a first-tier city.
2. Sound
/[ɕi̯ɛn˥˩]/Tone: 51
線
xiànxian4
++
`(51)
=xiàn
Initial Consonant
x
Type: Alveolo-Palatal Fricative
Sounds like: sh sound pronounced with the tongue blade near the hard palate and lips spread (alveolo-palatal sibilant)
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Hissing friction with lips stretched wide in a smile.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Tip of the tongue rests behind lower teeth while the blade rises close to the hard palate, creating a friction sound.
Final Rhyme
ian
Vowel Group: -a vowel group
Sounds like: ee-an combined into a single smooth glide ending in n
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'yen'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T4 (51)
4th Tone (High-Falling)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and drops sharply to the bottom, identical to a firm English 'No!' or 'Stop!'.
👂
Listening trap: Confusing it with xiān (first tone, flat) or xiǎn (third tone, dipping). Pay attention to the forceful drop of Tone 4.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: A swift, sharp downward chopping hand motion from high to low, mirroring the drop from pitch 5 to 1.
3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 8 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left radical (纟) should be compressed into the upper-left quadrant, leaving ample space for the right phonetic component (泉) to stretch out gracefully without crowding.

Simplification Logic: The traditional radical 糸 is simplified into the standard three-stroke graph 纟, and the right side maintains its traditional structure 泉.

4. Components

Radical 纟 · Silk Radical (Silk, threads, textiles)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 纟 (Indicates that the word relates to silk, thread, or cordage.)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 泉 (original sound: quán / xiàn)

A fine thread (纟) flows out like a spring of water (泉) bubbling up from the earth.

  • 纟 Silk thread (semantic root)
  • 泉 Spring of water (phonetic clue providing the sound foundation)
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Combined from the silk radical (糸/纟) representing fibers and 泉 providing the sound, originally denoting silk threads pulled out from cocoons.

Semantic Evolution: Expanded from literal silk threads to cotton threads, electrical wires, geometric lines, boundaries, and even organizational tiers.

  • In ancient China, silk thread production was central to the economy, making thread-related vocabulary highly refined.
  • The modern extension to city tiers (一线城市) uses 'line' as a dividing boundary or threshold of development.
6. Sinosphere
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: セン (sen) / Kun: いと (ito)
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
線
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

Imagine a tiny silk thread (纟) being pulled out continuously, flowing as smoothly and endlessly as water gushing from a mountain spring (泉).

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
线
xiànthread, lineStandard form with silk radical and spring component.
腺
xiànglandReplaces the silk radical with the flesh/moon radical (月), referring to bodily organs that secrete fluids.
羬
qiánfat sheepUses sheep radical instead.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
腺(xiàn)
线 uses 纟 (silk) because threads are like spun fibers, while 腺 uses 月 (flesh) because glands are body parts.
现(xiàn)
现 uses 王/玉 (jade/king) on the left, meaning 'to appear or present', whereas 线 uses 纟 (silk) for thread.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
風箏的[___]斷了，飛走了。
Clue: xiàn
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the left radical 纟 with the similar-looking 阝 (阝 is usually on the right for place names or left for hills, whereas 纟 is strictly for textiles and threads).

Memory Prompts
Recognition: What does the character 线 mean, and what do its left and right components signify?
Production: How do you write the character for 'thread/line' (xiàn) using the silk radical and the spring component?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

Search theme
Accent preference

Results are live YouTube search — accents and levels aren't verified.

線xiànthread
Speed:
Searching YouTube for native pronunciation videos...
0 / 0
Watch on YouTubeMore Results on YouTube