絹 means “silk”

きぬ · kinu

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

きぬ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ケン

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 6 · 13 strokes

The story

Thread (糸) beside a mouth (口) over flesh (月): picture a silkworm's mouth drawing thread out of its own body. 絹 is silk: 絹糸 is silk thread, and 絹ごし豆腐 is silken tofu, named for its smoothness, though no silk touches it.

Used in 絹 (kinu, silk), 絹糸 (kinuito, silk thread), and 絹ごし豆腐 (kinugoshi doufu, silken tofu)

Words with 絹

• 絹糸 (きぬいと, kinuito): silk thread

More from Silk & Sleeves

• 袖 sleeve
• 襟 collar
• 蚕 silkworm
• 裾 hem
• 繭 cocoon
• 巾 cloth
• 織 weave
• 脱 take off
• 麻 hemp
• 錦 brocade
• 繊 fiber
• 履 put on (shoes)

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.