What 綺 means
Its earliest recorded sense is patterned silk.
The early Chinese character dictionary 說文解字 defines 綺 as patterned woven silk in 121 CE. This is an early written witness, not a date for when the character was invented. Chinese dictionaries also record extended senses such as elegance and beauty.
綺 is built with 糸, the silk-related component, and 奇, a component that points to its sound. These parts explain the character's construction; they are not a two-part definition.
Why is 綺麗 used for beautiful and clean?
In Japanese, 綺麗 describes beauty, cleanliness, or neatness.
A person or view can be beautiful; a room can be clean or tidy. When the word describes finishing a task, it can suggest leaving things neat or clearing them away completely.
Japanese records attest to the written compound 綺麗 by the 1200s. As of 2023, a Japanese style article notes that 綺 is outside the common-use list, so some writers choose 奇麗 or きれい instead. The spelling is a writing choice, not a different definition.
What does 綺 mean when someone sends it?
A lone 綺 needs the sender's language and surrounding text.
Treat it as a fragment, part of a name, or a deliberate reference to Chinese or Japanese vocabulary. In Chinese, the context may point to patterned silk, finery, or elegance; in Japanese, 綺 may be the first character of 綺麗. Ask for the full word before assigning a meaning or mood.
In Chinese, 綺 has a classical textile-and-finery feel. Japanese 綺麗 is familiar, though the kanji spelling can feel more formal than きれい.
Do not read a lone 綺 as “pretty” before checking the language and the word.
Who writes 綺
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What it means when someone sends it to you
5 readingsPatterned or luxurious silk.
Don't confuse it with
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Related characters
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Combination ideas
3Questions people ask
3Is 綺麗 the same as 奇麗?
Yes. Both are established Japanese spellings of きれい. Writers may choose between kanji and kana according to house style or personal preference.
Is 綺 used in Japanese names?
Yes. Name readings include あや and キ, but a person's name determines which reading applies; do not assume it is read like 綺麗.
Why does 綺 look different?
Traditional Chinese writes 綺 and simplified Chinese writes 绮. Japanese and Chinese fonts can also draw characters with regional conventions.
More like this
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How to type or find 綺
- Search it as
- qǐ · qi3 · aya · ki · kirei · 綺麗 · 奇麗 · 綺羅
- Shows up in
- Anything that takes text · its shape is whatever your font draws
綺\7DBAqi3 or qǐ and choose the traditional character 綺.kirei and select 綺麗; remove 麗 when you need 綺 alone.aya or ki in a Japanese input method; the reading depends on the person's name.Codes and encoding1 code points
A visible symbol can contain several code points. JS .length counts UTF-16 units; UTF-8 counts bytes.