制服

• Pinyin: zhì fú
• Hanzi breakdown: 制 = regulate/make; 服 = 月 + 又 + 卩 (body + hand + kneeling — clothing or submission)

Meaning

A uniform; standardised clothing worn by members of an organisation. Also a verb meaning to subdue or bring under control.

As a noun: 校服 (school uniform), 军装 (military uniform), 工作制服 (work uniform). As a verb: 制服歹徒 (subdue the criminal), 制服疾病 (conquer disease). The dual meaning connects wearing a uniform with being controlled/disciplined.

Examples

1. 警察穿着整洁的制服在街头巡逻。 Police officers in neat uniforms patrolled the streets.
2. 勇敢的市民合力制服了抢劫犯，将其交给警方。 Brave citizens worked together to subdue the robber and hand him over to the police.
3. 医护人员身穿白色制服，在病房里忙碌着。 Medical staff in white uniforms were busy in the hospital ward.

Usage Guide

Context: clothing, law enforcement, workplace

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 学生必须按规定穿着校服上学。(Students must wear school uniforms to school as required.)
• 特警队员迅速出击，成功制服了持刀歹徒。(The SWAT team struck quickly and successfully subdued the knife-wielding criminal.)

Don't Say

• 我制服了这道数学题 — for solving problems, use 解决 or 攻克; 制服 implies physical or forceful subduing

Origin & History

制 (regulate/make) + 服 (clothes/submit) — regulated clothing; or to make someone submit

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal