紧身 (jǐn shēn) — tight-fitting (of clothing) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A modifier for clothing (clothes, pants) that fit closely to the body. Almost always appears before the noun with 的 (紧身的衣服); not used alone as a predicate.

adjective

tight-fitting (of clothing)

Examples

紧身。
Tā xǐ huan chuān jǐn shēn de yī fu.
She likes to wear tight-fitting clothes.
紧身。
Zhè tiáo jǐn shēn kù chuān zhuó hěn shū fu.
This pair of tight-fitting pants is comfortable to wear.
紧身。
Yùn dòng de shí hou chuān jǐn shēn de yī fu bǐ jiào fāng biàn.
When exercising, it's more practical to wear tight-fitting clothes.

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.

紧 tight and 身 body suggest clothing that fits closely.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 緊; 紧 is its simplified writing.

臤糸緊

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

臤

臤qiān緊jǐn

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

The traditional form 緊 pairs 糸 (thread) with 臤 as a sound part; the simplified 紧 is a later shorthand.

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

The shape of 身 comes from a drawing of a pregnant woman.

Appears in

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