绣

• Pinyin: xiù
• Hanzi breakdown: 绣 = 纟 (silk thread/textile) + 秀 (elegant/refined) — creating refined patterns with thread

Meaning

To embroider; to sew decorative patterns onto fabric using coloured threads.

Refers to the craft of embroidery, which has deep roots in Chinese culture (苏绣, 蜀绣, etc.). Can be used literally for needlework or figuratively for intricate, painstakingly crafted work.

Examples

1. 她用了整整半年时间，在丝绸面料上绣出了一幅精美的凤凰图案，令人叹为观止。 She spent a full six months embroidering an exquisite phoenix pattern on silk, leaving people in awe.
2. 苏州刺绣历史悠久，工艺精湛，一幅上乘作品往往需要绣娘耗费数月心血方可完成。 Suzhou embroidery has a long history and superb craftsmanship; a top-tier piece often requires an embroiderer to pour in months of effort to complete.
3. 这件旗袍的领口和袖口均以金线手工绣制，华贵典雅，展现了传统工艺的极高水准。 The collar and cuffs of this qipao are hand-embroidered with gold thread, luxurious and elegant, showcasing the highest level of traditional craftsmanship.

Usage Guide

Context: crafts, culture, fashion, traditional arts

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 她从小跟随祖母学习刺绣，如今已能独立绣制复杂的山水图案，技艺相当娴熟。(She learned embroidery from her grandmother since childhood and can now independently embroider complex landscape patterns with considerable skill.)
• 这幅双面绣将两种不同的图案绣于同一块丝绢两面，技艺之精湛令海内外收藏家叹服。(This double-sided embroidery stitches two different designs onto each side of a single piece of silk — a level of artistry that has astonished collectors both at home and abroad.)

Don't Say

• 绣一段文章 — 绣 refers to needlework on fabric; for composing elaborate text use 撰写 or 雕琢文字; 绣 cannot be applied to writing or non-textile creation

Origin & History

绣 = 糸 (silk thread) + 秀 (elegant/refined) — sewing elegant patterns with silk thread; a core craft in Chinese textile heritage

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal