穿

• Pinyin: chuān
• Hanzi breakdown: 穿 = 穴 (hole) + 牙 (tooth) — to bore through, extended to 'put on clothes'

Meaning

To wear; to put on. Used for clothing that covers the body, legs, or feet.

Used for clothes worn on the torso, legs, and feet: shirts, trousers, shoes, socks. Not used for hats (戴帽子) or accessories (戴眼镜). Also means 'to penetrate' or 'to pass through' (穿过马路, cross a road). Context usually makes the meaning clear.

Examples

1. 今天穿什么衣服？ What should I wear today?
2. 她穿了一条红裙子。 She wore a red skirt.
3. 天冷了，多穿点儿。 It's getting cold; wear more layers.

Usage Guide

Context: clothing, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你今天穿得很好看。(You're dressed nicely today.)
• 穿上外套吧，外面冷。(Put on a jacket; it's cold outside.)

Don't Say

• 穿帽子 for wearing a hat (Use 戴帽子 — 穿 is for clothing, 戴 is for accessories and hats)

Origin & History

Composed of 穴 (cave, hole) and 牙 (tooth). The original meaning was 'to bore through a hole', which extended to 'to thread through' and then 'to put on clothing' — threading your body through clothes.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal