衣 yī clothes
How it came to be
象形 · Pictogram
A drawing of the thing it means.
The oldest form is the outline of a garment for the upper body.
How it is used
- 'Clothing': bound; everyday it's 衣服 (yīfú) clothes.
- Specific garments use it as a suffix: 大衣 (dàyī) overcoat, 毛衣 (máoyī) sweater, 雨衣 (yǔyī) raincoat. 衣食住行 (yī-shí-zhù-xíng) = the basics of daily life.
Characters built with 衣
Words with 衣
- 衣服yīfúclothesHSK 1
- 上衣shàngyījacketHSK 3
- 大衣dàyīovercoatHSK 3
- 洗衣机xǐyījīwashing machineHSK 3
- 雨衣yǔyīraincoatHSK 3
- 毛衣máoyīsweaterHSK 4
- 内衣nèiyīundergarmentHSK 6
- 衣食住行yī-shí-zhù-xíngthe basics of life: clothing, food, housing, travelHSK 6
- 更衣室gēngyīshìchange roomHSK 7
- 节衣缩食jiéyī-suōshíto save on food and clothing (idiom)HSK 9
- 衣裳yīshangclothesHSK 9
Example sentences
- 这件衣服怎么样？ Zhè jiàn yīfu zěnmeyàng?How do you like this dress?
- 这件衣服多少钱？ Zhè jiàn yīfu duōshǎo qián?How much does the suit cost?
- 这件衣服很便宜。 Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn piányi.These clothes are very cheap.
- 她穿着红大衣。 Tā chuānzhe hóng dàyī.She's wearing a red overcoat.