cán
noun #29,547

Measure Word

tiáo

Meanings

  1. 1 silkworm

Examples

Cán tǔsī jiéjiǎn, yòng lái zhìzuò sīchóu.
Silkworms spin cocoons that are used to make silk.
Yǎngcán shì Zhōngguó shùqiān nián lái de chuántǒng.
Sericulture (silkworm farming) has been a Chinese tradition for thousands of years.

Tips

history
China has cultivated silkworms for over 5,000 years. According to legend, Empress Leizu discovered silk when a cocoon fell into her tea. The Silk Road takes its name from China's monopoly on silk production for centuries.
memory
The poetic phrase (the silkworm spins silk until death) is a classic metaphor for devoted love or tireless dedication.

Stroke Order

cán