袖子 (xiù zi) — sleeve | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

袖子 (xiùzi) refers specifically to the sleeve of a garment — the tubular part covering the arm. Unlike 口袋, it is part of the garment itself, not something you put things into.

noun

sleeve

Measure word · 只

Examples

袖子。
Zhè jiàn chèn shān de xiù zi tài duǎn le.
The sleeves of this shirt are too short.
袖子。
Tā bǎ xiù zi juàn dào le gē bo zhǒu.
She rolled her sleeves up to her elbows.
袖子。
Xǐ yī fu shí bié wàng le zhòng diǎn cuō xiù zi.
Don't forget to focus on scrubbing the sleeves when washing clothes.

Origin

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

子zǐsuffix

袖 gives the idea of a sleeve, and 子 completes the common form.

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

衣衣yīclothing

Sound part声符shēngfú

由

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

袖 pairs 衣 (clothing) with 由, which provides the sound.

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 Clothing

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