Chinese Character: 锦
1. Character Basics
Radical: 钅/jīn (gold/metal)
Stroke Count: 13
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jǐn (third tone)
3. Meaning
Brocade, rich and bright, splendid, beautiful
4. Common Words
- 锦绣 (jǐn xiù): Beautiful as brocade, splendid
- 锦上添花 (jǐn shàng tiān huā): Add flowers to brocade - make something good even better
- 锦旗 (jǐn qí): Silk banner (awarded as honor)
- 锦囊 (jǐn náng): Brocade bag, treasure bag
- 锦标赛 (jǐn biāo sài): Championship tournament
- 锦衣玉食 (jǐn yī yù shí): Fine clothes and delicious food - luxurious living
5. Grammar & Usage
As a noun:
- Refers to brocade fabric: 织锦 (zhī jǐn) - woven brocade
- Used metaphorically for something beautiful: 锦绣前程 (jǐn xiù qián chéng) - bright future
As an adjective:
- Describes something rich, bright, or beautiful: 锦缎 (jǐn duàn) - brocade silk
In idioms:
- 锦绣山河 (jǐn xiù shān hé): Beautiful mountains and rivers - splendid land
- 繁花似锦 (fán huā sì jǐn): Flowers in profusion like brocade - flourishing
- 锦囊妙计 (jǐn náng miào jì): Clever plan in a brocade bag - ingenious scheme
Usage patterns:
- Often combined with words related to beauty, luxury, or excellence
- Used in both literal and metaphorical senses
6. Cultural Background
The character 锦 has profound cultural significance in Chinese history:
Historical significance:
- Chinese brocade has a history of over 3,000 years, with techniques reaching great heights during the Han and Tang dynasties
- Brocade was highly valued and often used for imperial clothing and important ceremonies
Cultural symbolism:
- Represents wealth, beauty, and high status in traditional Chinese culture
- Often used in idioms and expressions to denote something excellent or admirable
Traditional arts:
- Famous types of Chinese brocade include Yunjin (Cloud Brocade) from Nanjing and Songjin (Song Brocade) from Suzhou
- These traditional crafts are recognized as intangible cultural heritage
Modern usage:
- While actual brocade is less common in daily life, the character remains widely used in language to describe beauty and excellence
7. Example Sentence
中文: 这幅山水画展现了祖国的锦绣山河。
Pinyin: Zhè fú shān shuǐ huà zhǎn xiàn le zǔ guó de jǐn xiù shān hé.
Translation: This landscape painting showcases the beautiful mountains and rivers of our motherland.
8. Memory Tips
Character breakdown:
- 钅 (gold/metal radical) on the left
- 帛 (bó, silk) on the right
Mnemonic:
Imagine golden (钅) threads woven into silk (帛) to create beautiful brocade (锦).
Visual association:
The combination of 钅 (metal) and 帛 (silk) in the character reminds us of the precious materials used to create brocade, one of the most luxurious fabrics in Chinese traditional culture.