锦 jǐn brocade
brocade; tapestry; embroidered
How to remember 锦: 钅 gold + 帛 silk cloth = brocade. Grandma's wedding dress is woven with gold thread into red silk cloth, a heavy brocade she still keeps in the cupboard.
Component breakdown
锦 = 钅 gold + 帛 silk cloth
- 钅 gold
- 帛 silk cloth
Grandma's wedding dress is woven with gold thread into red silk cloth, a heavy brocade she still keeps in the cupboard.
How it is used
- Brocade - richly woven silk - hence a byword for splendid and beautiful: 锦绣 (jǐnxiù) gorgeous, 前程似锦 (qiánchéng sì jǐn) a future bright as brocade.
- 锦上添花 (jǐnshàng-tiānhuā) 'add flowers to brocade' = to make something already good even better - contrast 雪中送炭 (help when it's truly needed).
- 锦旗 (jǐnqí) is the embroidered silk banner given as a token of thanks.