条

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 条 (tiáo) is composed of two parts: the radical 糸 (mì) and the phonetic component 刀 (dāo). The radical 糸 originally meant "silk" or "thread," and it is often used in characters related to textiles or thin, long objects. The phonetic component 刀 originally meant "knife" or "blade," and it is often used in characters related to cutting or dividing.The combination of these two components in the character 条 suggests the idea of "cutting" or "dividing" something into long, thin pieces. This is reflected in the meanings of the character, which include "strip," "item," "clause," and "regulation." For example, the word 条款 (tiáokuǎn) means "clause" or "provision," and the word 条例 (tiáolì) means "regulation" or "ordinance."The character 条 can also be used in a more abstract sense to refer to a "category" or "type." For example, the word 条目 (tiáomù) means "item" or "entry," and the word 条理 (tiáolǐ) means "order" or "system."In addition to its literal meanings, the character 条 can also be used in a figurative sense to refer to something that is "clear" or "distinct." For example, the word 条理分明 (tiáolǐ fēnmíng) means "clear and distinct," and the word 条分缕析 (tiáofēn lǚxī) means "to analyze something in detail."Overall, the character 条 is a versatile character with a rich history and a wide range of meanings. It is an important character for HSK learners to master, as it is used in a variety of everyday contexts.