針織 / 针织
zhēnzhī
In Mandarin, knitting is translated as 針織 / 针织 (zhēnzhī). Wiktionary also lists 編織 / 编织 (biānzhī).
Meaning: activity and process of knitting (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 針織 / 针织 | zhēnzhī |
| 編織 / 编织 | biānzhī |
The term 針織 / 针织 refers specifically to the activity and process of knitting. If you wish to refer to the actual items produced by this process, such as a scarf or a sweater, you should use the terms 针织品 or 针织物 to mean knitted goods or knitwear.
Which one should you use?
While 針織 / 针织 refers specifically to knitting, 編織 / 编织 is a broader term that can encompass knitting, weaving or braiding.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the concept as a verb (to knit), the single character 织 is often used, for example in the phrase 织毛衣 to mean 'to knit a sweater'.
How do you pronounce it?
zhēnzhī
Did you know?
- The character 针 in 针织 means 'needle' and is the same character used for acupuncture needles, reflecting the common tool-based root of both practices.
- In many Chinese contexts, the broader term 编织 (biānzhī) is used not just for textiles, but also for 'weaving' together complex ideas or even 'braiding' hair.
- The character 织 used for knitting originally depicted a shuttle and threads, reflecting that early Chinese textile history focused on weaving on looms rather than knitting with needles.
Examples in context
- 我最近开始打毛衣了。I recently started knitting.
- 她喜欢打花衣。She enjoys knitting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “knitting” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
