棉 mián cotton
cotton; cotton-padded; padded or quilted with cotton
How to remember 棉: 木 tree + 帛 silk cloth = cotton. The girl picks white fluff off the tree in Grandma's yard, holds it against Grandma's best silk cloth and decides she prefers the cotton.
Component breakdown
棉 = 木 tree + 帛 silk cloth
- 木 tree
- 帛 silk cloth
The girl picks white fluff off the tree in Grandma's yard, holds it against Grandma's best silk cloth and decides she prefers the cotton.
How it is used
- Cotton - 棉花 (miánhuā) raw cotton, 棉衣/棉被 cotton-padded clothes/quilt.
- 棉 marks 'cotton-padded/quilted' for warmth: 棉袄 a padded jacket.
- Distinct from 绵 (mián, silk floss/continuous) though homophone - 棉 is the plant/fiber.
- 棉签 (miánqiān) = a cotton swab; 纯棉 = pure cotton.
Words with 棉
Example sentences
- 棉被很暖和。 Miánbèi hěn nuǎnhuo.Comforters are very warm.