Definitions

(noun) clothes; clothing

Etymology

Pictograph of a shirt or coat.

About

The character "衣" originated from an early pictograph depicting a garment with sleeves and a front opening, a form that has been maintained without significant structural change over time. Etymologically, it represents the core concept of clothing, and its consistent shape functions as a semantic component in many characters related to attire, such as those for shirts or skirts, indicating its role as a radical. While its primary meaning has always centered on garments, specifically referring to upper body coverings in ancient texts, its application broadened to include all types of clothing and later extended into metaphorical uses, such as denoting natural coverings like plant husks or anatomical layers, reflecting a gradual shift from literal to figurative senses.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢这件服。

Wǒ xǐhuān zhè jiàn yīfu.

I like this piece of clothing.

她每天换服。

Tā měitiān huàn yīfu.

She changes clothes every day.

妈妈在洗服。

Māmā zài xǐ yīfu.

Mom is washing clothes.

柜里有很多服。

Yīguì lǐ yǒu hěnduō yīfu.

There are many clothes in the wardrobe.

这件服的颜色很漂亮。

Zhè jiàn yīfu de yánsè hěn piàoliang.

The color of this piece of clothing is very beautiful.

他因为天气冷而多穿了一件服。

Tā yīnwèi tiānqì lěng ér duō chuān le yī jiàn yīfu.

He wore an extra piece of clothing because the weather was cold.

旅行时,轻便的物很重要。

Lǚxíng shí, qīngbiàn de yīwù hěn zhòngyào.

When traveling, lightweight clothing is important.

这家商店专门销售高档饰。

Zhè jiā shāngdiàn zhuānmén xiāoshòu gāodàng yīshì.

This store specializes in selling high-end clothing and accessories.