衣服

• Pinyin: yī fu
• Hanzi breakdown: 衣 = pictograph of a garment with collar; 服 = 月 (body) + 又 (hand) — originally depicted dressing oneself

Meaning

Clothes; clothing. A general term for garments and apparel of any kind.

A general, everyday word covering all types of clothing. Used in shopping, laundry, and daily life contexts. The measure word for individual garments is 件 (jiàn).

Examples

1. 她买了很多新衣服。 She bought a lot of new clothes.
2. 今天天冷，多穿点衣服。 It's cold today — put on more clothes.
3. 我的衣服脏了，要洗一洗。 My clothes are dirty; I need to wash them.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, shopping, household

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这件衣服多少钱？(How much does this piece of clothing cost?)
• 我要洗衣服。(I need to do the laundry.)

Don't Say

• 不要用'一个衣服'，正确量词是'一件衣服'。(Don't use 一个 with 衣服 — the correct measure word is 件, as in 一件衣服)

Origin & History

衣 (garment) + 服 (to wear/serve). 衣 is a pictograph of a collar and sleeves. Together, 衣服 forms a compound noun meaning clothing.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal