Left-side silk radical, the simplified three-stroke form of
糸 (a twist of silken threads). The indexing radical —
纤 is a fine fibre, by extension anything slender (
纤维 fibre,
纤细 slim). The simplified
纤 merged two traditional characters:
縴 (tow-rope, qiàn) and
纖 (delicate, xiān), both silk-rooted. Same family:
缝 to sew,
绳 rope.
