The Chinese word 洗衣 (xǐyī) is a straightforward verb-object compound formed by combining the verb 洗 (xǐ, meaning "to wash") with its direct object 衣 (yī, meaning "clothing" or "clothes"). This grammatical structure, where an action is directly followed by the item it acts upon, creates the clear and functional meaning "to wash clothes". While it can stand alone as a phrase, it most commonly serves as a modifying element in larger compound nouns, such as 洗衣机 (xǐyījī, washing machine) or 洗衣粉 (xǐyīfěn, laundry detergent), where it specifies the purpose or function related to laundering.