短衣 (duǎn yī) — short garment (e.g., short jacket)

Definition

短衣 refers to a short upper-body garment like a short jacket or top, typically worn in warm weather or for casual wear.

noun

short garment (e.g., short jacket)

Measure word · 件

短衣，。
Tā chuān le yí jiàn duǎn yī, kàn qǐ lái tè bié jīng shén.
He wore a short jacket and looked especially spirited.
，短衣。
Xià tiān de shí hou, wǒ xǐ huan chuān duǎn yī hé duǎn kù.
In summer, I like to wear a short top and shorts.
短衣，。
Zhè jiàn duǎn yī shì yòng mián bù zuò de, hěn shū fu.
This short garment is made of cotton and is very comfortable.

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.

衣yīgarment

短 gives short and 衣 gives garment, yielding a short garment.

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.

矢豆短

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

豆

豆dòu短duǎn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

短 is built from 矢 and 豆. 豆 is used for its sound, while 矢 is the component linked to the meaning.

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.