Definitions

cháng (noun) skirt; lower garment

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Originally used interchangeably with .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "裳" is etymologically structured as a phono-semantic compound, integrating the clothing radical "衣" at its base with the phonetic component "尚" above, which together originally denoted a specific lower garment akin to a skirt or loincloth in early Chinese contexts. Over time, its semantic scope broadened from this precise referent to encompass clothing more generally, particularly within the durable compound "衣裳", where it contributes to the collective meaning of attire. This shift from a concrete, singular item to a more abstract lexical component illustrates a gradual change in application, while the character's graphical composition has remained consistent, reinforcing its perennial association with garments through the enduring presence of the "衣" element.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 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 Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
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 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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她买了一件新衣

Tā mǎi le yī jiàn xīn yīshang.

She bought a new piece of clothing.

这件衣很漂亮。

Zhè jiàn yīshang hěn piàoliang.

This piece of clothing is very beautiful.

妈妈洗了我的衣

Māma xǐ le wǒ de yīshang.

Mom washed my clothes.

昨天我穿了红衣

Zuótiān wǒ chuān le hóng yīshang.

Yesterday I wore red clothes.

她的衣总是很干净。

Tā de yīshang zǒng shì hěn gānjìng.

Her clothes are always very clean.

因为天气冷,他穿了厚衣

Yīnwèi tiānqì lěng, tā chuān le hòu yīshang.

Because the weather is cold, he wore thick clothes.

我喜欢的衣都在衣柜里。

Wǒ xǐhuan de yīshang dōu zài yīguì lǐ.

The clothes I like are all in the wardrobe.

尽管衣旧了,但她还是舍不得丢。

Jǐnguǎn yīshang jiù le, dàn tā háishì shěbude diū.

Even though the clothes are old, she still can't bear to throw them away.