绵 mián continuous
continuous; unbroken; silk; soft
How to remember 绵: 纟 silk + 帛 silk cloth = continuous. Grandma pulls one strand of silk from the edge of the silk cloth, and it runs across the whole room, long and continuous.
Component breakdown
绵 = 纟 silk + 帛 silk cloth
- 纟 silk
- 帛 silk cloth
Grandma pulls one strand of silk from the edge of the silk cloth, and it runs across the whole room, long and continuous.
How it is used
- Soft/continuous/unbroken (like silk floss): 绵软 (miánruǎn) soft and tender, 连绵 (liánmián) continuous/unbroken (连绵不断 stretching on and on, of mountains/rain).
- 绵延 (miányán) means to stretch continuously; 海绵 (hǎimián) is a sponge; 绵羊 (miányáng) a sheep; 缠绵 (chánmián) means lingering/tender (feelings, illness).