sī

丝

HSK 7-9Character · Noun · Measure wordTraditional絲

silk; tiny amount; unit

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

5 senses · 15 examples
1.

noun

silk; silkworm silk

Refers to the fine thread produced by silkworms, used to make textiles.

Zhè这
zhǒng种
miàn面
liào料
shì是
yòng用
cán蚕
sī丝
zhì制
zuò作
de的
 。

This fabric is made from silkworm silk.

Gǔ古
dài代
rén人
yòng用
cán蚕
sī丝
zhī织
sī丝
chóu绸
 。

Ancient people wove silk from silkworm silk.

2.

noun

silk-like object/thread

Often used with a classifier, or followed by a material to indicate a filament-like substance.

Mā妈
ma妈
bǎ把
luó萝
bo卜
qiē切
chéng成
sī丝
er儿
zuò做
bàn凉
liàng拌
cài菜
 。

Mom shredded radishes to make a cold salad.

Zhī蜘
zhū蛛
de的
sī丝
kě可
yǐ以
zhān粘
zhù住
xiǎo小
chóng虫
zi子
 。

A spider's silk can trap small insects.

Show 3 more examples
Gōng工
yè业
shàng上
cháng常
yòng用
gāng钢
sī丝
lái来
zhì制
zào造
líng零
jiàn件
 。

Factories often use steel wire to make parts.

Shǒu手
diàn电
tǒng筒
de的
guāng光
xiàng像
yī一
shù束
jīn金
sī丝
 。

The flashlight beam looks like a strand of golden thread.

Bié别
pèng碰
nà那
xiē些
tiě铁
sī丝
 ,
huì会
zhā扎
dào到
shǒu手
de的
 。

Don't touch those iron wires, they will prick your hand.

3.

measure word

unit of length/weight

formal

Used in traditional Chinese measurement systems, now commonly used to refer to 0.01 millimeter in industrial contexts.

Zhè这
ge个
líng零
jiàn件
de的
wù误
chā差
zhǐ只
yǒu有
yī一
sī丝
 。

The error of this part is only one hundredth of a millimeter.

4.

measure word

tiny amount; bit

Often used with the number 一 to emphasize a very small quantity.

Tā他
de的
zhōng中
wén文
méi没
yǒu有
yī一
diǎn点
jìn进
bù步
 ,
yī一
sī丝
bù不
chà差
 ?

His Chinese hasn't improved at all, not even a tiny bit?

Fáng房
jiān间
lǐ里
yī一
sī丝
fēng风
dōu都
méi没
yǒu有
 ,
tài太
rè热
le了
 。

There isn't a single breath of wind in the room, it's so hot.

Show 3 more examples
Wǒ我
duì对
zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
méi没
yǒu有
yī一
sī丝
xìng兴
qù趣
 。

I have no interest at all in this matter.

Tā他
de的
huí回
dá答
méi没
yǒu有
yī一
sī丝
cuò错
wù误
 。

There is not a single mistake in his answer.

Tā她
de的
liǎn脸
shàng上
méi没
yǒu有
lù露
chū出
yī一
sī丝
xiào笑
róng容
 。

Not a single smile appeared on her face.

5.

noun

stringed instruments

literary

Used in the fixed phrase 丝竹, which refers to traditional Chinese musical instruments in general.

Gǔ古
dài代
wén文
rén人
xǐ喜
huan欢
tīng听
sī丝
zhú竹
zhī之
shēng声
 。

Ancient scholars enjoyed listening to traditional Chinese music.

Zhè这
chǎng场
yǎn演
chū出
jì既
yǒu有
sī丝
zhú竹
guǎn管
xián弦
 ,
yòu又
yǒu有
xì戏
qǔ曲
biǎo表
yǎn演
 。

This performance includes both string and wind instruments as well as opera.