纺织 (fǎng zhī) literally combines 纺 (fǎng), meaning 'to spin' — as in twisting fibers into yarn — and 织 (zhī), meaning 'to weave' — interlacing yarns to form fabric. Together, the term refers broadly to the textile industry as a whole, encompassing spinning, weaving, dyeing, finishing, and garment production. It is commonly used in formal, economic, or industrial contexts, such as government reports, company names, or academic discussions about manufacturing sectors.

In everyday speech, 纺织 is rarely used alone as a verb; instead, it functions almost exclusively as a noun modifier or compound noun — for example, in 纺织厂 (textile factory), 纺织业 (textile industry), or 纺织品 (textiles). While historically rooted in handcraft, today it evokes large-scale industrial activity and is often associated with China’s export-driven manufacturing economy, particularly in regions like Zhejiang and Guangdong.