背心

• Pinyin: bèi xīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 背 = back; 心 = heart/chest

Meaning

Vest; tank top; sleeveless shirt. A garment covering the torso without sleeves.

Can refer to various sleeveless upper body garments, including undershirts, athletic tank tops, and formal vests worn over dress shirts. The specific style depends on context.

Examples

1. 夏天太热了，他每天穿着背心在家里转悠。 Summer is too hot — he walks around the house wearing a tank top every day.
2. 这件西装配这个背心很好看。 This suit looks great with this vest.
3. 她穿了一件运动背心去健身房锻炼。 She wore a sports tank top to exercise at the gym.

Usage Guide

Context: clothing, everyday

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 今天太热了，我就穿个背心吧。(It's too hot today — I'll just wear a tank top.)
• 他穿着西装背心看起来很正式。(He looks very formal wearing a suit vest.)

Don't Say

• 不要把'背心'和'马甲'完全等同 (Don't treat 背心 and 马甲 as identical — 马甲 often refers to padded vests or specifically down vests, while 背心 is more general)

Origin & History

Compound of 背 (back) + 心 (chest/heart), referring to a garment that covers the back and chest but not the arms.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal