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便衣 (biàn yī) — plain clothes (civilian clothing, as opposed to uniform); plainclothes police officer

Definition

Literally 'convenient clothes' — it means civilian clothing worn in place of a uniform, and by extension the undercover officer wearing it. Distinguish from 制服 (zhi4fu2), the standard uniform.

noun
plain clothes (civilian clothing, as opposed to uniform)plainclothes police officer
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 便衣，。
    Tā jīn tiān chuān zhuó biàn yī, kàn qǐ lái bú xiàng jǐng chá.
    He's in plain clothes today and doesn't look like a cop.
  • 便衣。
    Nà ge biàn yī tū rán chū shì le zhèng jiàn.
    That plainclothes officer suddenly showed his badge.
  • 。
    Biàn yī jǐng chá zài rén qún zhōng guān chá kě yí rén wù.
    Plainclothes police were observing suspicious individuals in the crowd.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

便biàninformal
衣yīclothes

便衣 means plain clothes, with 便 suggesting informal, everyday wear and 衣 giving clothes.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

便 pairs 亻 (person) with 更 (to change), showing a person changing posture to become comfortable.

Open 便 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 衣 comes from an outline of the chest and upper clothing.

Open 衣 →
Appears in
ClothingCrime & Police

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