线索

xiànsuǒ

Traditional: 线索

#1435 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

clue, lead, thread of evidence

Word origin

A compound of 线 (xiàn, thread, line) and 索 (suǒ, rope, to search), drawing on the image of following a thread to lead one towards an answer.

Origin
compound
Root
线 (xiàn, thread) + 索 (suǒ, rope, to search)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 线

线

Stroke order for 索

Examples

The police found an important clue.

This lead took us to that house.

So far there are no clues at all.

He followed the clues and found the truth.

fēng

That letter was the key clue to solving the case.

线索 (xiàn suǒ) means a clue or lead, especially in the context of an investigation or a mystery. The imagery is of a thread that, when followed, guides the searcher to the answer.

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This word is part of lesson 29.