棉
mián/mi̯ɛn³⁵/
In Chinese, cotton is expressed as 棉 (mián). If unsure, use 棉. Wiktionary also lists 棉布 (miánbù).
Meaning: fabric (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 棉 | mián | /mi̯ɛn³⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /miɛn²¹/ (Mandarin, Chengdu, Sinological IPA) |
| 棉布 | miánbù | /mi̯ɛn³⁵ pu⁵¹/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /miːn²¹ pou̯³³/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) |
The term 棉 is used to refer to cotton as a raw material or a fiber. To describe a garment or object as being made of cotton, you often add the particle 的 after 棉 to create the adjective 棉的.
What does it mean word for word?
The word for cotton cloth, 棉布, is a compound made of 棉, meaning cotton and 布, meaning cloth.
Which one should you use?
The single character 棉 refers to the raw material or the fiber itself, whereas 棉布 refers specifically to the woven fabric.
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing the material of a garment, use the form 棉的 to function as an adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is mián.
Did you know?
- Depending on certain linguistic theories, the ancient word for 'delicate' in the 'Shijing' might actually be a very early ancestor of the word for cotton.
- The concept of 'cotton' in Chinese is often associated with 'warmth' in idioms, as cotton padding was the primary historical method for winterizing clothes.
- While 棉 is the fiber, the word for 'cotton flower' or 'cotton boll' is 棉花, which literally translates to 'cotton flower'.
Examples in context
- 這件罩衫是棉的。This blouse is cotton.This sentence demonstrates how to use the adjective form 棉 to describe a blouse.Tatoeba #10495235 by DaoSeng, translation #60571 by CK
- 有一天我买了一台棉花糖机。Someday I will buy a cotton candy machine.This sentence shows the use of 棉 within the term for cotton candy.Tatoeba #502853 by fucongcong, translation #1886 by Swift
- 樹棉Gossypium hirsutum (tree cotton)This sentence uses 棉 in the botanical name for tree cotton.
- 我们的国家是一个棉花生产大国。Our country is a major cotton producer.
- 这件衣服是纯棉的，很舒服。This garment is made of pure cotton, it is very comfortable.
- 我喜欢穿棉质的服装，因为它们很透气。I like wearing cotton clothes because they are breathable.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Haoran and Jiayi are shopping for clothes at a mall.
- 浩然 Haoran這件襯衫是什麼材質的？Zhè jiàn chènshān shì shénme cáizhì de?What material is this shirt made of?
- 佳怡 Jiayi它是純棉的，很舒服。Tā shì chún mián de, hěn shūfú.It is pure cotton, very comfortable.
- 浩然 Haoran我最喜歡穿棉的衣服。Wǒ zuì xǐhuān chuān mián de yīfú.I like wearing cotton clothes the most.
- 佳怡 Jiayi我也是，尤其是夏天。Wǒ yě shì, yóuqí shì xiàtiān.Me too, especially in summer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cotton” translations and entries 棉, 棉布, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 棉, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
