繊維

• Reading: せんい
• Romaji: sen'i
• Kanji breakdown: 繊 (sen) — slender, fine; 維 (i) — fibre, cord
• Pronunciation: /seɴ.i/

Meaning

Fibre; textile. Thin, thread-like structures or the textile industry.

A noun with two primary uses: the physical meaning of fibre (dietary fibre, muscle fibre, plant fibre) and the industrial meaning related to textiles and fabric manufacturing. Commonly encountered in health contexts as 食物繊維 (dietary fibre) and in industry as 繊維産業 (textile industry).

Examples

1. 野菜には食物繊維が豊富に含まれている。 Vegetables are rich in dietary fiber.
2. 日本の繊維産業は明治時代に大きく発展した。 Japan's textile industry developed greatly during the Meiji era.
3. この服は天然繊維で作られているので肌に優しい。 This clothing is made from natural fibers, so it's gentle on the skin.

Usage Guide

Context: health, textiles, science

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 繊維. 繊 (sen) means slender or fine, and 維 (i) means fibre or cord. Together they describe thin, thread-like structures.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal