slender · fiber

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 繊 has 17 strokes and expresses delicacy or slenderness and appears in the word for fiber.
• Basic usage: 繊細 is read せんさい, and 繊維 is read せんい.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 繊細 and 繊維
  • 繊細 means delicate or sensitive.
  • 職人は繊細な模様を細い筆で描いた。 means “The artisan painted a delicate pattern with a fine brush.”
  • 繊維 means fiber.
  • この布は細くて丈夫な繊維で織られている。 means “This fabric is woven from thin, strong fibers.”