纹 (wén) is a Chinese character meaning “lines”. It is written from 纟 (silk; thread (left-side form)) and 文 (writing; script; culture), side by side, and takes 7 strokes.
Build the character for “lines; pattern”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
纟 + 文
Left–right structure
Structure from: IDS 现代字形拆分，已对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（3+4=7）
Memory aid
Silk thread (纟) on the left, writing (文) on the right — fine lines drawn across a surface. 文 also carries the sound: wén.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
7 strokes
In real words
- 指纹zhǐ wénfingerprint纹 = wén
- 花纹huā wéndecorative pattern; figured design纹 = wén
- 皱纹zhòu wénwrinkles; creases纹 = wén
Go deeper
All readings
lines; pattern
lines; veins; grain; a decorative pattern on a surface
物体表面的线条、纹路或花样。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 指纹zhǐ wénfingerprint纹 = wén
- 花纹huā wéndecorative pattern; figured design纹 = wén
- 皱纹zhòu wénwrinkles; creases纹 = wén
Sound component
文 family exact
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 纹 mean?
纹 (wén) means lines; veins; grain; a decorative pattern on a surface.
How do you pronounce 纹?
It is pronounced wén.
What parts is 纹 made of?
纟 (silk; thread (left-side form)) and 文 (writing; script; culture), side by side. The recorded source is: IDS 现代字形拆分，已对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（3+4=7）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 纹 have?
7. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 纹?
糸. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 纹?
Common ones are 指纹 and 花纹. The reading of 纹 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.