Meaning
刺绣 refers to the traditional art of decorating fabric with needle and thread to create patterns, images, or text. As a noun, it means embroidery or embroidered work. As a verb, it means to embroider. This is an important part of Chinese cultural heritage, with famous regional styles like Suzhou embroidery (苏绣) and Hunan embroidery (湘绣).
Usage
刺绣 is more formal and literary than everyday speech. Native speakers typically use it when discussing traditional crafts, cultural heritage, or artistic techniques. In modern contexts, it often appears in cultural discussions, museum descriptions, or when talking about traditional Chinese clothing and decorative arts.
Examples
- 01她的奶奶擅长刺绣，做了很多漂亮的作品。, .Her grandmother is skilled at embroidery and has made many beautiful works.
- 02这件旗袍上的刺绣非常精美。.The embroidery on this qipao is extremely exquisite.
Characters
Measure words
- 幅一幅刺绣
- 件一件刺绣品
Common collocations
- 刺绣品embroidered products
- 刺绣工艺embroidery craft/technique
- 苏州刺绣Suzhou embroidery
- 手工刺绣hand embroidery
Origin
刺 originally means to pierce or stab, referencing the action of pushing a needle through fabric. 绣 specifically relates to embroidery work. Together, 刺绣 literally describes the piercing action involved in creating embroidered designs.