线

線
xiàn
noun HSK 6 #827

Measure Word

一条线 tiáo

Meanings

  1. 1 line; thread; wire
  2. 2 route; boundary

Characters

Contains the silk radical 纟, reflecting that threads and lines were originally made from silk.

Examples

HSK 3
Zhè tiáo dìtiě xiàn hěn fāngbiàn.
This subway line is very convenient.
HSK 4
Qǐng zài xiàn hòumiàn páiduì.
Please line up behind the line.
HSK 5
Wǒ xūyào yì gēn xiàn.
I need a thread.

Tips

usage
在线 means 'online' and 离线 means 'offline' - modern digital usage of an ancient character.

Components

radical
纟 sī
silk; thread (left-side form of 糸)
Left silk radical - the indexing component. 线 belongs to the thread/cord family: 绳 (rope), 纸 (paper, originally pulp matted from fibers), 细 (fine), 织 (weave). The radical signals anything filament-like, from sewing thread to a subway line.
phonetic
戋 jiān
small; trifling
Right 戋 supplies the sound (jiān → xiàn, j/x labial shift) and a faint flavor of slender/thin - fitting for a thin thread or wire. Same phonetic family as 钱 (money, originally small coin), 浅 (shallow), 笺 (note).

Stroke Order

线 xiàn