布衣 (bù yī) — cotton clothes; hempen clothes (simple, undyed garments); (historical) commoner; a person of humble origin, especially a scholar who has not yet obtained office

Definition

Literary/classical term for plain hempen clothes, and by extension a commoner or humble scholar before taking office. Strongly tied to historical and literary writing — not used in everyday speech.

noun
cotton clotheshempen clothes (simple, undyed garments)(historical) commonera person of humble origin, especially a scholar who has not yet obtained office
Measure word · 件
Easily confused

Examples

  • 布衣，。
    Tā chuān zhuó yí jiàn jiǎn dān de bù yī, kàn qǐ lái xiàng gè pǔ tōng rén.
    He wore a simple cloth gown and looked like an ordinary person.
  • 布衣，。
    Gǔ dài xǔ duō rén cái dōu chū shēn bù yī, hòu lái què chéng wéi dà guān.
    In ancient times, many talented people came from commoner backgrounds but later became high officials.
  • 布衣，。
    bù yī Zhī jiāo zuì kě guì, bù yīn pín fù ér gǎi biàn.
    Friendship formed during commoner days is most precious; it doesn't change because of wealth or poverty.

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.

布bùcloth
衣yīclothing

布 means cloth and 衣 means clothing, together naming simple cloth clothing.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
巾巾jīnkerchief
Sound part声符shēngfú
父
父fù布bù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

Open 布 →

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 →

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