绍 is a Chinese character with HSK 2 on the new exam.
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
绍 is a phono-semantic compound not attested in oracle bone script. The left component 糸 (silk thread) provides the semantic category relating to binding and continuity, while 召 on the right gives the phonetic reading (shào) and carries the sense of summoning or calling forth. The structure suggests joining threads together, which underlies the extended meaning of connecting people.
Form evolution
The character appears in small seal script (小篆) with 糸 clearly written as three strands with knots at the base, and 召 composed of 刀 over 口 on the right. Clerical script flattened the silk radical into four dots and squared off the strokes. The simplified form 绍 reduces 糸 to 纟 (three strokes), a standard PRC simplification applied to all silk-radical characters.
How the meaning evolved
The original sense was to connect, continue, or carry on, as in 继绍 (to carry on a tradition). From connecting threads the meaning extended to connecting people, which gave rise to the modern dominant usage in 介绍 (to introduce). The older meaning of continuation survives mainly in literary compounds and classical texts.
Cultural note
The city name 绍兴 (Shaoxing, in Zhejiang) preserves the older sense of continuing and flourishing, and the region is famous for its rice wine and as the hometown of Lu Xun. Learners often meet 绍 only in 介绍 and are surprised to find it carries a much broader meaning of lineage and succession in classical writing.
Basic info
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 2 |
| Frequency | #1414 most common |
Example sentences
让我介绍一下。
Ràng wǒ jièshào yīxià.
Let me introduce.
From 介绍 (HSK 2)
Words containing 绍
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 介绍 | jièshào | to introduce | HSK 2 |
On the new HSK 2 exam
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Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.