内裤 (nèi kù) — underpants, briefs | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

underpantsbriefs

Measure word · 条

内裤。
Wǒ zuó tiān mǎi le yì tiáo xīn nèi kù.
I bought a new pair of underpants yesterday.
内裤，。
Zhè tiáo nèi kù shì chún mián de, chuān zhuó hěn shū fu.
These briefs are pure cotton and very comfortable to wear.
内裤。
Tā xǐ huan chuān hēi sè nèi kù.
He likes to wear black underpants.

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.

裤kùtrousers

内 means inside and 裤 means trousers, so together they name pants worn inside.

Characters in this word

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

The shape shows 入 entering into 冂, a house, so it pictures bringing something indoors, giving the sense inside.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 褲; 裤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

衣衣yīclothing

Sound part声符shēngfú

庫

庫kù褲

Same sound today

The traditional form 褲 pairs 衣 (clothing) with 庫 for its sound. The simplified 裤 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical pieces.

Appears in