紙

Phono-semantic compound:

糸 (실 사, “thread, fiber”) — semantic, indicating fibers/threads.

氏 (성씨 씨, “clan, surname”) — phonetic component.

Originally referred to fibrous material used for writing. Later specifically applied to plant fiber–based paper after its invention.

Shuōwén Jiězì explains: 「紙, 絮一𥮒也」 — “Paper is made by filtering fibers through a bamboo frame.”

Book of Later Han records Cai Lun’s invention: before his time, writing was on bamboo slips (竹簡) or silk (縑帛). Using silk was costly; hence paper (紙) became a cheaper alternative.

In modern Korean, 紙 extends beyond plant fiber paper to any thin sheet material (e.g., vinyl sheet, leather sheet).

紙張 (지장) — a sheet of paper

白紙 (백지) — blank paper

紙幣 (지폐) — paper money

紙片 (지편) — scrap of paper

新聞紙 (신문지) — newspaper paper