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紧身衣 (jǐn shēn yī) — tight clothing; close-fitting garment (e.g., bodysuit, leotard, yoga top)

Definition

A close-fitting garment (leotard, bodysuit, yoga top) worn for sports or dance to allow free movement. Unlike everyday clothes, 紧身衣 is tight against the body by design.

noun
tight clothingclose-fitting garment (e.g., bodysuit, leotard, yoga top)
Measure word · 件

Examples

  • 紧身衣。
    Tā chuān le yí jiàn hēi sè de jǐn shēn yī qù jiàn shēn fáng.
    She wore a black tight-fitting top to the gym.
  • 紧身衣。
    Zhè zhǒng jǐn shēn yī shì hé tiào wǔ de shí hou chuān.
    This kind of close-fitting garment is suitable for dancing.
  • 紧身衣。
    Yùn dòng shí chuān jǐn shēn yī kě yǐ gèng hǎo dì huó dòng.
    Wearing tight clothing during exercise allows for better movement.

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.

紧身tight-fitting
紧jǐntight身shēnbody
偏正Modifier + head
衣yīgarment

The 紧身 (tight on the body) and 衣 (garment) together make a close-fitting 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.

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

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.

Open 紧 →

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.

Open 身 →

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 →
Appears in
Clothing

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