Learn a Chinese Character - 巾

1. Character Basics

Radical: 巾/jīn (cloth radical) - 巾 is a radical itself

Stroke Count: 3

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jīn (first tone)

3. Meaning

Cloth, towel, scarf, kerchief, piece of cloth, fabric, textile, head covering, material used for wrapping or covering

4. Common Words

• 毛巾 (máo jīn) - towel

  请给我一条毛巾。

  Please give me a towel.

• 围巾 (wéi jīn) - scarf

  冬天我喜欢戴围巾。

  I like to wear a scarf in winter.

• 手巾 (shǒu jīn) - handkerchief, small towel

  她用手巾擦了擦脸。

  She wiped her face with a handkerchief.

• 餐巾 (cān jīn) - napkin

  吃饭时请使用餐巾。

  Please use a napkin while eating.

• 头巾 (tóu jīn) - headscarf

  她戴着一条红色头巾。

  She is wearing a red headscarf.

• 巾帼 (jīn guó) - woman (referring to capable women)

  巾帼不让须眉。

  Women are not inferior to men.

5. Grammar & Usage

The character 巾 has several important grammatical patterns and usages:

• As a noun:

  Refers to various types of cloth or fabric items

  Example: 这条巾很柔软。 (This piece of cloth is very soft.)

• As a radical:

  巾 is an important radical in Chinese characters, often found in characters related to cloth, clothing, or textiles

  Examples: 布 (cloth), 带 (belt), 帽 (hat), 帐 (curtain), 帆 (sail), 幅 (width of cloth)

• In compound words:

  Often combined with other characters to form words related to cloth or fabric items

  Examples: 毛巾 (towel), 围巾 (scarf), 手巾 (handkerchief), 餐巾 (napkin)

• In formal or literary contexts:

  巾帼 (jīn guó) - a term used to refer to women, especially capable or heroic women

  Example: 她是一位巾帼英雄。 (She is a heroine.)

• In measure words:

  巾 can be used as a measure word for certain cloth items

  Example: 一条巾 (a piece of cloth)

• In idiomatic expressions:

  巾短情长 (jīn duǎn qíng cháng) - the cloth is short but the feeling is long (used to express deep affection that cannot be fully expressed in writing)

The character 巾 is primarily used to refer to cloth or fabric items, and is also an important radical in Chinese characters related to textiles and clothing.

6. Cultural Background

The character 巾 has important cultural significance in Chinese society:

• In ancient China, 巾 was an important item of daily life, used for wiping, covering, and carrying things. Different types of 巾 were used by people of different social statuses.
• The character 巾 is closely related to traditional Chinese clothing and textiles. For example, headscarves (头巾) were common accessories in traditional Chinese attire, especially for women.
• The term 巾帼 (jīn guó) has a special cultural significance. Originally referring to a type of head covering worn by women in ancient times, it later became a symbol of women themselves, particularly capable or heroic women.
• Traditional Chinese art often depicts people wearing various types of 巾, reflecting the important role of cloth items in Chinese culture and daily life.
• The radical 巾 is found in many Chinese characters related to textiles, clothing, and daily necessities, highlighting the importance of cloth and fabric in Chinese civilization.
• In Chinese literature, 巾 is often used in poetic expressions to evoke imagery related to daily life, emotions, and cultural traditions.

Overall, the character 巾 reflects important cultural elements related to clothing, textiles, daily life, and gender symbolism in Chinese society.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character 巾 (jīn) is a simple character with only 3 strokes:

• The character resembles a piece of cloth or a towel hanging down.
• It consists of a vertical stroke on the left, followed by a horizontal stroke that extends to the right and then turns downward.

To remember this character:

1. Visualize the character as a simple drawing of a piece of cloth or a towel, which directly relates to its meaning.
2. Practice writing the character several times, focusing on the correct stroke order of its 3 strokes.
3. Connect the character to its most common use in everyday phrases like 毛巾 (towel) or 围巾 (scarf).
4. Use mnemonics: Imagine the shape of 巾 as a small towel hanging on a hook, representing the concept of cloth or fabric.
5. Learn that 巾 is an important radical in Chinese characters related to cloth and textiles, and familiarize yourself with some of these characters to reinforce your memory.
6. Notice how the pronunciation "jīn" is similar to the English word "gin" but with a different tone, which can help with memorization.

Due to its simplicity and frequent use as a radical, 巾 is one of the fundamental characters that every Chinese language learner should master early on.